-7v- 


X&tf 


THE  AMERICAN  SPORTSMAN'S  LIBRARY 

EDITED  BY 
CASPAR    WHITNEY 


THE   WATER-FOWL   FAMILY 


i   ? 


THE    WATER-FOWL 
FAMILY 


BY 

L.    C.   SANFORD 
L.    B.    BISHOP 

AND 

T.    S.   VAN    DYKE 


gorfc 
THE   MACMILLAN   COMPANY 

LONDON :  MACMILLAN  AND  CO.,  LTD. 
1903 

All  rights  reserved 


COPYRIGHT,  1903, 
BY  THE  MACMILLAN  COMPANY. 


Set  up  and  electrotyped  March,  1903. 


Nortooob 

J.  S.  Cashing  &  Co.  —Berwick  &  Smith  Co. 
Norwood,  Mass.,  U.S.A. 


CONTENTS 

WATER-FOWL 
By  L.  C.  SANFORD 

PAGE 

INTRODUCTORY i 

CHAPTER  I 
DUCK-SHOOTING  6 


CHAPTER  II 
DUCK-SHOOTING  (continued) 56 

CHAPTER  III 
DUCK-SHOOTING  (continued) 118 

CHAPTER   IV 
DUCK-SHOOTING  (continued) 190 

CHAPTER  V 
GOOSE-SHOOTING 205 

CHAPTER  VI 
THE  SWANS 258 


271061 


vi  Contents 


CHAPTER  VII 

PAGE 

RAIL-SHOOTING  »  268 


CHAPTER  VIII 
SHORE-BIRD  SHOOTING 302 

CHAPTER  IX 
SHORE-BIRD  SHOOTING  (continued) 330 

CHAPTER  X 
SHORE-BIRD  SHOOTING  (continued) 336 

,       CHAPTER  XI 
SHORE-BIRD  SHOOTING  (continued) 451 

9  9  »  » 

CHAPTER  XII 
SHORE-BIRD  SHOOTING  (continued) 480 

CHAPTER  XIII 
SHORE-BIRD  SHOOTING  (continued) 489 

CHAPTER  XIV 

SHORE-BIRD  SHOOTING  (continued)       .        .        .        .        .    496 


Contents  vii 

THE  WATER-FOWL  OF  THE   PACIFIC 
COAST 

BY  T.  S.  VAN  DYKE 
CHAPTER  I 

PAGE 

THE  DUCKS 503, 

CHAPTER  II 
THE  GEESE 532 

CHAPTER  III 
THE  WADERS  AND  SHORE-BIRDS 557 

DIAGNOSES   OF  FAMILIES  AND  GENERA 

THE  WATER-FOWL 565 

THE  RAILS 571 

THE  SHORE-BIRDS 572 

INDEX 581 


LIST   OF   ILLUSTRATIONS 

OVER  THE  DECOYS         .        .        .     Frontispiece  —  Photogravure 

PAGE 

RED-HEADS  AND  CANVAS-BACKS 50 

ALONG  THE  MARSH 62 

DUSKY  OR  BLACK  DUCKS  (Male  and  Female)       ...  80 

SHOVELLERS  (Male  and  Female) 106 

OLD-SQUAWS  (Male  and  Female) 154 

HOODED  MERGANSERS 198 

SNOW  GEESE 208 

WHITE-FRONTED  OR  GAMBEL'S  GEESE         ....  230 

CANADA  GEESE 250 

SHOOTING  YELLOWLEGS  ON  LONG  ISLAND    .        .        .        .275 

KING  RAIL 290 

AMERICAN  OR  WILSON'S  SNIPE 344 

GREATER  YELLOWLEGS 408 

WILLETS 422 

BLACK-BELLIED  PLOVER 452 

GREEN-WINGED  TEAL  (Male  and  Female)     ....  504 

MALLARDS     .        . 515 

BAY  SNIPE-SHOOTING 540 

BLUEBILL 560 


THE   WATER-FOWL   FAMILY 

THE  Anatidae,  or  family  of  wild  fowl,  comprises 
the  swans,  geese,  sea-ducks,  river-ducks,  and  mer- 
gansers. From  time  immemorial  this  group  of 
birds  has  been  most  important  in  its  relations  to 
man.  Divided  into  various  subfamilies,  it  con- 
tains nearly  two  hundred  species,  about  sixty  of 
which  are  North  American.  The  peculiar  char- 
acteristics of  these  birds  are  well  known :  all  have 
heavy  bodies,  and  most  of  them  long  necks ;  the 
bill  varies  much  in  shape  in  the  different  species, 
but  is  usually  broad,  covered  with  a  soft  skin  and 
with  a  hard  nail  at  the  tip ;  it  is  often  provided 
with  little  comb-like  processes  situated  on  its 
inner  edges,  which  assist  in  sifting  the  food 
from  its  common  environment  of  mud  and  sand. 
The  tongue  is  large  and  fleshy,  adapted  for  all 
sorts  of  water- vegetable  material  and  various  crus- 
tacea  and  shellfish  which  comprise  the  diet.  The 
windpipe  varies  curiously  in  the  different  indi- 
viduals, being  convoluted  and  twisted,  thus  afford- 
ing the  volume  of  voice  noted  particularly  among 
some  of  the  geese  and  swans.  The  legs  are  short, 
the  forward  toes  webbed,  the  tarsus  and  feet  cov- 


"Water-fowl  Family 

ered  with  a  naked,  scale-like  skin,  nicely  adapting 
the  bird  for  water.  The  wings  vary  in  length  in 
comparison  to  the  body,  but  are  commonly  rather 
short  and  specially  strong,  calculated  for  speedy, 
powerful  flight,  making  possible  the  long,  tedious 
migration  peculiar  to  many  of  the  species.  The 
plumage  is  thick  and  dense,  consisting  of  short, 
soft,  outer  feathers  over  a  skin  coating  of  down. 
In  many  of  the  species  the  color  is  plain,  and  of 
a  protective  character  well  suited  to  the  haunts 
of  the  bird  —  a  condition  which  is  regularly  true 
of  the  female  and  the  young. 

The  males  of  a  number  of  varieties  of  ducks, 
however,  when  full-plumaged  in  the  late  fall  and 
winter,  are  unsurpassed  in  beauty  of  coloring ;  an 
attire  that  is  retained  until  incubation  has  begun. 
About  this  time,  the  birds  moult,  the  male  assuming 
a  dress  more  or  less  closely  resembling  the  female. 
During  the  moulting  period  for  a  while  many  of 
our  water-fowl  are  helpless,  the  large  pinions  of 
the  wing  having  been  lost.  Now  every  protection 
against  the  depredations  of  the  natives  and  other 
enemies  is  essential,  and  hence  nature's  provision 
in  the  change  of  color.  The  males  of  many  of 
our  water-fowl,  after  incubation  has  been  estab- 
lished, separate  from  the  females,  and  gather  by 
themselves  on  neighboring  bodies  of  water,  where 
greater  security  is  afforded  than  the  shores  and 
marshes  selected  for  nesting  purposes  could  give. 


The  Water-fowl  Family  3 

The  female  attends  to  all  of  the  duties  of  nesting 
and  hatching,  bringing  up  the  brood,  and  leading 
them  south  when  an  all-provident  nature  directs 
the  weary  flight.  In  the  different  species  of  geese 
and  swan  both  birds  divide  the  duties  of  nesting. 
The  migration  of  our  water-fowl  is  one  of  the 
wonders  of  instinct;  gathering  in  flocks  some- 
times of  vast  proportions,  under  the  leadership  of 
experienced  pilgrims,  the  ranks  proceed  on  a 
straight,  true  course,  probably  often  making  no 
stops  until  the  permanent  quarters  of  the  fall 
and  winter  have  been  reached.  This  trait  is  most 
marked  among  the  more  powerful  flyers,  the  geese 
and  swans.  From  the  breeding-ground  to  the  last 
stopping-place,  and  all  along  the  line  where  cir- 
cumstances have  permitted,  this  vast  army  has 
been  beset  with  destruction  on  all  sides.  The 
Eskimo  and  the  Indian  have  robbed  their  nests, 
destroyed  the  young,  and  killed  them  when  help- 
less from  their  moulting.  Formerly  the  geese 
were  slaughtered  in  thousands  at  this  time,  and 
salted  for  winter  use,  actually,  in  some  instances, 
herded  together  and  the  entire  body  killed.  Once 
within  the  boundaries  of  the  United  States,  their 
persecution  is  incessant ;  every  device  known  has 
been  used  against  them,  with  results  that  within 
the  past  few  years  the  diminution  in  numbers  in 
many  of  the  old  resorts  has  been  most  apparent. 
From  the  remotest  north  to  the  tropics,  wherever 


4  The  Water-fowl  Family 

man  has  gone,  he  has  found  these  birds  and  waged 
a  relentless  warfare  on  them.  Recently  I  heard 
of  a  device  which  has  been  common  for  years 
in  southern  Mexico.  Not  far  from  the  city  of 
Mexico,  the  larger  lakes,  which  are  the  winter 
home  for  countless  thousands  of  wild  fowl,  are 
leased  for  large  sums  to  Mexicans  who  gun  for 
the  market.  Cannon  are  placed  in  favorable  posi- 
tions along  the  shore,  and  for  days  the  birds  are 
baited  within  range,  then  a  discharge  is  fired  into 
a  mass  of  ducks,  and  literally  hundreds  are  killed. 
This  has  been  a  local  practice  for  many  years. 

No  birds  are  more  essential  to  man  than  the 
wild  fowl ;  they  serve  him  with  food  and  in  many 
regions  with  clothing ;  the  soft  downy  skin  of  the 
eider  being  regularly  used  by  many  of  the  Eski- 
mos for  undergarments,  while  the  down  of  these 
birds  is  an  important  article  of  commerce  in  many 
countries  of  the  north.  In  Norway  and  Iceland 
the  breeding  eiders  are  protected.  The  islands 
are  carefully  watched  and  every  facility  afforded 
the  sitting  ducks.  Under  these  circumstances  the 
bird  can  regularly  be  lifted  from  the  nest  while 
the  eggs  are  removed,  a  sufficient  number  being 
left  to  hatch.  In  some  instances  these  birds 
actually  nest  within  the  natives'  houses,  and  there 
is  a  story  of  a  Norwegian  who  gave  up  his  fire- 
place to  an  eider.  As  opposed  to  the  wanton 
destruction  which  threatens  our  water-fowl  almost 


The  Water-fowl  Family  5 

universally,  it  is  specially  pleasant  to  see  these 
instances  of  protection.  In  countries  where  parks 
and  gardens  afford  refuge,  the  wild  duck  are 
always  quick  to  take  advantage.  In  the  United 
States,  the  Yellowstone  Park  is  the  best  instance 
of  this  protection,  and  here  every  lake  along  the 
highways  is  patronized  by  ducks  and  geese  as 
tame  and  unsuspecting  as  barnyard  fowl.  In  one 
instance  I  saw  a  flock  of  Canada  geese  circle 
around  one  of  the  hotels,  and  alight  in  the  yard, 
where  they  fed  without  the  slightest  concern. 
About  the  same  hour  daily  this  flock  of  fifteen  or 
more  would  appear  for  their  evening  meal. 

Many  different  varieties  of  wild  fowl  are  seen 
in  various  parts  of  our  country  in  a  state  of  do- 
mestication, particularly  where  decoy  shooting  is 
afforded.  The  Canada  goose  quickly  makes  the 
most  of  circumstances  and  poses  as  a  certain  lord 
among  the  domestic  ducks  and  geese,  often  mating 
with  a  barnyard  goose.  The  offspring  have  the 
general  coloring  and  characteristics  of  the  wild 
bird,  but  like  most  hybrids  are  regularly  barren. 
This  is  a  present  instance  of  the  relationship  of  our 
barnyard  geese  and  ducks  to  their  wild  ancestors. 
The  progenitors  of  the  domestic  race  can  be  traced 
to  a  comparatively  few  species.  Among  the  most 
notable  are  the  bean  goose,  the  mallard,  and  mus- 
covy  ducks ;  these  being  the  varieties  most  common 
in  countries  where  ancient  civilization  existed. 


CHAPTER   I 

DUCK-SHOOTING 

AN  almost  irresistible  desire  comes  over  most 
men,  at  times,  to  change  the  routine  of  civilized 
life  for  the  quiet  and  solitude  of  the  wild.  For- 
est, field,  and  waters  all  offer  their  inducements, 
in  many  instances  combined  with  hardship  and 
fatigue;  and  yet  to  him  who  loves  it,  actual  suf- 
fering often  only  adds  to  the  satisfaction  of  the 
reward,  doubly  pleasing  as  the  result  of  endurance 
and  patience.  With  a  large  number  of  those  indi- 
viduals to  whom  the  gun  and  all  that  goes  with 
it  is  dear,  the  wild  duck  brings  up  the  pleasantest 
recollections  and  anticipations.  The  ponds  and 
lakes  of  the  North,  and  the  prairie  sloughs,  come 
before  him,  where  they  nested  and  spent  the  sum- 
mer, restless  at  the  time  of  approaching  fall  for 
the  southern  migration.  He  remembers  drifting 
down  the  river  with  a  gentle  current,  amid  Octo- 
ber foliage,  to  where  alders  and  willows  lined  the 
bank  and  darkened  the  water;  where  he  saw  the 
ripple  that  betrayed  the  presence  of  wild  duck, 
before  they  took  wing  with  frightened  splashing. 
Early  mornings  come  to  his  mind,  when  he  break- 

6 


Duck-shooting  7 

Pasted  before  dawn,  and  pushed  out  from  the  shore 
into  the  narrow  bay,  its  surface  hardly  ruffled  by 
a  light  breeze.  Dark  lines  marked  the  points  of 
marsh,  as  yet  indistinct ;  a  flock  of  birds  leaving 
the  water  made  the  first  sound ;  then  the  soft 
whistling  of  overhead  wings.  Quietly  the  boat 
moved  on ;  finally  the  blind  was  reached.  Then 
the  few  minutes  at  sunrise,  of  anticipation,  the 
first  birds,  a  line  coming  out  of  the  east,  getting 
blacker  and  bigger,  soon  in  range  over  him ;  the 
first  shot,  and  the  splash  of  a  fallen  bird.  Wet 
and  cold  days  are  recalled,  when  to  lie  low  in 
the  blind  was  misery,  and  even  the  excitement  of 
watching  a  steady  flight  of  birds  could  not  warm 
him.  Or  perhaps,  hidden  in  the  ice  behind  a  few 
decoys,  he  waited  at  a  hole  of  open  water,  too 
cold  to  shoot,  though  ducks  were  plenty.  Yet  few 
men  could  appreciate  better  than  he  a  blazing 
fire  or  the  comfort  of  plain  food  and  a  rough  bed. 
With  winter's  waning  came  the  procession  of  wild 
fowl  from  the  South,  to  tarry  until  spring;  then 
the  line  far  overhead  leading  north  —  his  last 
glimpse. 

The  methods  by  which  wild  fowl  are  hunted 
vary  in  different  sections  of  our  country.  Shoot- 
ing over  decoys  is  probably  the  most  universal 
means.  In  those  locations  where  birds  are  accus- 
tomed to  the  wiles  of  man,  their  cunning  is  a 
match  for  his  skill,  and  his  skill  is  great.  They 


8  The  Heater-fowl  Family 

know  the  points  and  blinds,  and  decoys  do  not 
easily  deceive.  Hence  the  greatest  care  in  every 
detail  is  necessary.  The  gunner's  place  of  con- 
cealment should  be  carefully  prepared ;  it  must 
closely  resemble  the  surroundings,  and  be  as 
inconspicuous  as  possible.  In  places  where  the 
slightest  change  would  be  noticed,  sink  boxes  are 
often  placed ;  blinds  sunk  below  the  surface  level, 
on  sand-bars  or  flat  marshes.  Used  in  places  ex- 
posed to  tide  and  high  water,  baled  out  and  care- 
fully banked  up  with  sand  when  occasion  requires, 
next  to  the  battery  it  is  most  effective  as  a  blind. 
For  those  birds  whose  haunts  are  the  open  bays 
and  who  shun  the  marshes,  the  battery  is  em- 
ployed, and  when  well  managed  this  means  is  the 
deadliest  of  all.  Shallow  water  and  quiet  weather 
are  necessary  for  its  use.  A  hundred  or  more 
decoys  surround  it,  placed  to  accommodate  the 
gunner  and  bring  in  the  birds  at  the  most  con- 
venient angle,  which  for  a  right-hand  man  is  the 
left  side.  In  case  ducks  come  in  to  the  right, 
a  quick  gunner  can  generally  swing  into  a  posi- 
tion to  shoot  by  throwing  both  feet  out  of  the 
battery  and  turning  to  the  right.  In  all  kinds  of 
duck-shooting  the  most  successful  gunner  is  the 
one  who  keeps  out  of  sight  all  the  time.  This  is 
specially  true  in  shooting  from  a  sink  box  or  bat- 
tery. While  watching  for  ducks  under  these  cir- 
cumstances, the  eye  should  be  just  above  the  level 


Duck-sbooting  9 

of  the  box,  and  when  the  birds  are  sighted  there 
should  be  no  motion ;  the  slightest  movement  often 
attracts  attention  and  startles,  while  if  a  gunner 
remains  perfectly  still  often  no  notice  is  paid  to 
him,  even  though  exposed.  In  shooting  from 
blinds,  if  possible  birds  should  be  watched  through 
the  blind,  and  not  over  the  top.  It  is  a  great  ad- 
vantage to  keep  the  game  in  sight.  In  this  way 
a  gunner  is  more  likely  to  know  exactly  the  time 
to  shoot.  The  habit  of  looking  up  and  then 
drawing  back  is  almost  sure  to  attract  the  atten- 
tion of  a  decoying  bird  and  shy  it  off.  As  to 
when  to  shoot  over  decoys,  it  is  often  possible  to 
judge  more  or  less  of  a  bird  by  the  way  in  which 
it  hails;  flying  low  down,  the  chances  of  its  de- 
coying are  much  better  than  if  the  flight  is  high. 
On  general  principles,  the  man  who  lets  a  bird 
come  in  as  close  as  it  will,  can  choose  his  time 
and  distance.  No  kinds  of  shooting  are  subject 
to  more  variations  than  duck-shooting.  While 
under  favorable  circumstances,  over  decoys,  it 
may  be  an  easy  matter  to  shoot  well ;  when  wind 
and  storm  are  complications,  the  greatest  skill  is 
required.  Few  birds  fly  with  more  speed.  Few 
thumps  bring  a  greater  satisfaction  than  that  of  a 
falling  duck  folded  up  from  some  point  way  over- 
head. 

As  to  the  question  of  guns.     Some  years  ago 
the  ten-bore  was  the  popular  gun  for  ducks,  but 


io  The  Water-fowl  Family 

sportsmen  have  generally  come  around  to  the 
twelve  as  the  most  satisfactory,  except  in  a  few 
instances.  The  man  who  shoots  consistently  a 
twelve-bore  gun  will  find  it  the  best  for  all  duck- 
shooting.  There  are  a  few  places  where  over- 
head shooting  is  to  be  had  at  birds  beyond  reach 
of  the  twelve-bore,  and  eight  and  even  four  bore 
guns  are  shot.  But  excuses  for  using  large  bore 
guns  can  seldom  be  found,  and  they  should  be 
relegated  to  the  past. 

In  many  sections  of  our  country,  clubs  fitted 
out  with  all  possible  comforts  are  the  resort  of 
the  duck  hunter.  Provided  with  a  trained  gun- 
ner who  manages  the  blind  and  sets  the  decoys, 
who  watches  and  calls,  duck-hunting  is  a  different 
story.  In  one  of  the  clubs  near  Boston,  where 
duck  and  goose  shooting  is  had  occasionally,  the 
blind  is  built  as  an  addition  to  the  club-house,  and 
when  any  luckless  birds  are  sighted  a  bell  touched 
by  the  man  on  the  lookout  rings  throughout  the 
establishment,  and  members  are  summoned  to 
the  guns  at  any  hour  of  the  day  or  night.  In  the 
South  the  most  desirable  locations  on  the  Chesa- 
peake and  on  the  bays  of  Virginia  and  North 
Carolina  are  occupied  by  clubs.  Conspicuous 
among  them  are  the  Carroll's  Island,  the  Narrows 
Island,  and  the  Currituck  clubs.  In  the  days  of 
canvas-back  on  the  Chesapeake  the  Carroll's  Island 
Club  was  one  of  the  most  famous  in  existence, 


Duck-shooting  1 1 

and  the  old  records  of  ducks  and  ducking  days 
there  would  fill  many  an  interesting  volume.  As- 
sociated with  these  clubs  is  the  Chesapeake  Bay 
dog,  a  breed  in  which  the  old  Newfoundland  was 
marked.  Few  dogs  possess  the  wisdom  and 
courage  of  these,  and  when  well  trained  they  are 
unequalled  as  retrievers.  Of  a  dirty  sedge  color, 
the  dog  lies  close  to  the  blind,  motionless,  but 
ever  watchful.  After  the  bird  has  dropped,  he 
waits  the  word  and  then  is  off.  Few  cripples 
escape  him.  He  follows  a  wing-broken  duck 
with  a  persistence  in  some  instances  wonderful, 
judges  the  direction  of  the  diving  bird,  and 
gradually  closes  in  on  it.  When  two  birds  fall, 
the  wounded  one  is  selected.  Marsh  grass  can- 
not conceal  from  his  nose  a  crippled  duck.  He 
knows  the  live  decoys  as  well  as  you  do.  Even 
a  wounded  swan  stands  small  chance  with  him. 
These  are  the  traits  a  good  dog  possesses,  but 
a  good  Chesapeake  dog  is  rare.  With  all  the 
facilities  that  can  exist  for  the  gunner,  duck- 
hunting  in  the  eastern  United  States  is  getting 
more  and  more  to  be  an  art.  Wild  ducks  cer- 
tainly seem  to  adapt  themselves  to  circumstances. 
They  have  measured  the  range  of  modern  guns 
and  smokeless  powder,  yet  their  cunning  certainly 
adds  to  the  satisfaction  of  getting  them.  In  the 
far  West,  where  nearly  all  ducks  exist  in  abun- 
dance and  shooting  is  easy,  the  character  of  the 


12  The  Water-fowl  Family 

sport  changes.  There  is  more  satisfaction  in 
one  Long  Island  black  duck  than  a  dozen  Dakota 
red-heads.  But  wherever  seen  there  are  few 
more  welcome  sights  to  many  sportsmen  than  a 
flock  of  wild  ducks. 

FROM  PASSES 

This  method  represents,  more  than  any  other, 
fairness  and  skill ;  it  consists  in  waiting  for  the 
birds  along  the  line  of  flight,  and  can  be  practised 
wherever  the  flocks  take  any  particular  course 
over  land.  The  lakes  and  sloughs  of  our  Western 
states  offer  the  greatest  facilities  for  pass  shooting, 
although  in  the  East  in  various  places  along  the 
coast,  where  narrow  bars  or  breakwaters  lie  be- 
tween the  feeding-grounds  and  resting-places,  the 
same  means  may  be  employed.  When  the  birds 
are  obliged  to  cross  these  points  in  locations 
where  there  is  much  gunning,  the  danger  is 
quickly  appreciated,  and  they  soar  high  up  in 
approaching,  making  the  shots  long  ones.  In 
places  along  the  New  England  coast  this  shoot- 
ing can  be  obtained,  the  ducks  flying  from  the 
larger  bodies  of  water  into  the  smaller  bays  and 
up  the  rivers  to  feed,  passing  out  again  in  the 
evening,  or,  in  the  case  of  certain  varieties,  com- 
ing on  to  the  marshes  toward  dusk  to  feed  and 
spend  the  night  Occasionally  the  ducks  are 
well  out  of  reach  of  guns  of  ordinary  bore  and  can 


Duck-shooting  1 3 

only  be  brought  down  with  the  heaviest  charges. 
Stormy,  windy  weather  alters  the  flight,  and  at 
this  time  they  come  low,  within  range. 

In  North  Dakota  pass  shooting  can  even  now 
be  enjoyed  as  in  perhaps  no  other  country,  yet 
here  the  devastation  of  the  past  few  years  is 
noticeable,  and  the  wild  fowl  are  no  longer  seen 
in  the  hordes  of  the  past.  It  was  near  Sanborn, 
North  Dakota,  a  few  years  ago,  that  the  writer 
enjoyed  a  week's  shooting  of  this  character. 
There  were  four  of  us  in  the  party,  and  our  head- 
quarters was  a  farm  some  forty  miles  from  the 
railroad.  The  hunting  was  done  by  driving  over 
the  prairie  to  the  various  lakes  in  the  vicinity, 
where  it  was  a  simple  matter,  in  a  few  hours' 
morning  shooting,  to  reach  the  Dakota  limit  of 
twenty-five  birds  to  a  man.  The  first  day's 
experience  I  shall  always  remember.  The  prairies 
of  North  Dakota  now  are  largely  wheat-fields,  the 
stubbles  of  which,  toward  the  end  of  summer, 
are  the  feeding-ground  of  thousands  of  prairie- 
chickens,  so  it  was  natural  that  the  large  road- 
wagon  contained,  besides  ourselves,  two  bird  dogs. 
We  had  spent  the  greater  part  of  the  day  driving, 
stopping  once  in  a  while  to  hunt  for  chickens, 
with  very  fair  success.  Toward  the  end  of  the 
afternoon  a  good-sized  slough,  a  short  distance 
from  the  road,  attracted  our  attention ;  the  horses 
were  turned  toward  the  top  of  a  knoll,  and  we 


14  The  Water-fowl  Family 

looked  down  on  a  sizable  marsh,  its  edges  sur- 
rounded largely  by  reeds  and  rushes.  The  sight 
that  greeted  us  is  beyond  my  powers  of  de- 
scription, and  for  a  minute  we  all  gazed  spell- 
bound. About  the  shores  we  could  see  a  little 
water,  elsewhere  none ;  the  surface  of  that  pond 
was  one  black  mass  of  ducks,  hundreds  and  thou- 
sands. Fortunately  an  old  hand  was  along.  As 
we  started  to  get  ready,  he  checked  us,  "  Wait 
until  we  see  the  pass."  Presently,  successive 
flocks  leading  into  the  lake  from  the  opposite 
side  told  their  course.  By  this  time  we  could 
wait  no  longer.  The  team  was  driven  into  a  little 
hollow,  and  the  man  who  "  knew  it  all "  was 
responsible  for  the  promise  it  would  stand. 
Then  came  the  question  of  the  dogs ;  "  Tie  them 
to  the  wheels  and  come  along."  We  followed  the 
shore,  keeping  just  far  enough  back  not  to  be 
observed,  stopping  now  and  then  to  look  at  that 
sight- of  ducks.  Soon  we  were  among  the  reeds 
and  high  grass  of  the  farther  end  and  could  see 
the  continuation  of  the  slough  in  a  little  chain  of 
ponds  beyond.  There  were  more  birds  than  I 
believed  could  ever  crowd  into  one  place.  We 
separated  a  few  feet,  forming  a  line  across  the 
most  likely  pass ;  there  was  no  need  of  a  blind ; 
the  grass  hid  us  well.  During  this  time  several 
flocks  had  passed  over  within  range,  but  not  a 
shot  had  been  fired;  we  were  all  getting  ready. 


Duck-shooting  1 5 

I  took  off  my  coat  and  put  all  of  my  possessions 
in  the  line  of  cartridges  on  it.  Pretty  soon  a  flock 
of  shovellers  swept  overhead  and  called  forth  the 
first  shots.  At  the  reports  there  was  the  mighti- 
est splashing  ever  heard ;  the  whole  mass  seemed 
in  motion ;  a  few  seconds  and  they  were  on  us. 
"  Pick  out  the  canvas  and  red-heads,"  yelled  the 
man  who  had  been  there  before.  "  Pick  out 
nothing,"  hollered  his  next-door  neighbor,  as  he 
fired  both  barrels  into  the  air  and  loaded  and 
fired  again.  It  certainly  was  bedlam  let  loose. 
All  I  can  remember  about  this  particular  moment 
is,  that  everybody  was  shooting  as  fast  as  he  could 
load,  and  ducks  were  overhead  all  the  time,  con- 
tinuous lines  of  them ;  the  air  was  black ;  shovel- 
lers, teal,  mallard,  gadwall,  every  other  kind  of  a 
duck  that  grows  in  Dakota,  but  somehow  very 
few  stopped.  How  long  this  flight  lasted  it  isn't 
necessary  to  say,  but  our  guns  were  so  hot  we 
could  hardly  hold  them.  In  a  short  time  there 
were  fewer  birds  ;  small  flocks,  separated  by  breath- 
ing intervals,  gave  us  an  opportunity  to  get 
collected  and  straightened  out.  We  attended  to 
business  better.  A  bunch  of  red-head,  about  the 
last  left,  appeared  just  overhead.  The  first  man  cut 
down  his  two,  and  the  rest  of  us  did  up  the  flock. 
We  picked  up  six.  Straggling  flocks  of  teal  and 
shoveller,  occasionally  mallard,  used  up  the  last 
cartridges,  and  we  gathered  up  the  spoils.  On 


1 6  The  Water-fowl  Family 

a  pass  where  the  shooting  is  fast  there  is  no  time 
to  mark  and  pick  up  fallen  birds  at  once,  and  as  a 
result  many  are  lost. 

During  all  this  fusillade  our  vehicle  with  its 
trusted  pair  had  remained  as  still  as  any  dead 
duck ;  but  for  some  reason  our  approach  changed 
their  ideas,  and  to  our  utter  consternation  they 
were  actually  walking  off  with  two  dogs  tied  to  the 
wheels,  protesting.  We  ran,  we  yelled,  we  cursed, 
did  everything  to  frighten  a  team  that  didn't  need 
any  stimulation.  They  broke  from  a  trot  to  a 
dead  run.  Fortunately  the  dogs  had  broken  loose. 
My  last  glimpse  of  that  outfit  was  a  small  black 
spot  on  the  horizon,  going  like  "  hell  bent."  The 
sequel  to  our  first  day's  duck-shooting  in  North 
Dakota  was  one  night  in  a  haystack. 

OVER  DECOYS 

No  form  of  duck-shooting  is  so  common  as 
that  in  which  decoys  are  used.  The  habit  our 
wild  fowl  have  of  flocking  together  makes  the 
wooden  images,  even  in  places  where  gunning 
is  constant,  irresistible.  *  In  our  more  popular 
resorts,  however,  wild  ducks  are  wary,  perhaps 
warier  than  ever,  but  there  are  few  that  do  not 
sooner  or  later  yield  to  the  attractions  of  a  decoy. 
Often,  though,  little  defects  in  the  decoys  are 
noticed  and  incoming  birds  appreciate  the  mis- 
take in  time  to  turn  off ;  hence  the  greatest  care 


Duck-shooting  1 7 

should  be  taken  in  the  making  and  coloring  of 
the  stool. 

The  best  decoys  are  made  of  cork,  carefully 
weighted  and  painted,  sometimes  provided  with 
glass  eyes,  the  paint  on  cork  being  less  liable 
to  shine  and  gleam  in  certain  lights  than  that 
on  wood,  although  for  most  practical  purposes 
wooden  decoys  suffice.  Many  of  our  clubs  go 
even  farther  than  this  and  employ  live  decoys. 
Live  ducks  used  with  the  wooden  stool  are  always 
very  efficient  and  allure  the  wildest  birds.  In  a 
few  Massachusetts  clubs  the  use  of  live  decoys 
reaches  its  highest  degree  of  proficiency.  Here 
live  birds  are  actually  let  loose  from  coops,  trained 
to  fly  about  the  lake,  and  return  to  the  stand,  bring- 
ing with  them  any  wild  relatives  they  happen  to 
encounter.  At  the  first  suspicion  of  anything  do- 
ing, a  well-trained  duck  decoy  lifts  his  voice  and 
quacks  —  the  louder  and  more  often,  the  better. 
No  wild  fowl  in  the  vicinity  can  resist.  The  wild 
birds  reply  and  are  answered ;  they  turn,  circle, 
and  alight  among  their  own.  In  Massachusetts 
ducks  are  not  only  permitted  to  alight,  but  are 
also  persuaded  to  huddle  up  and  get  their  heads 
together,  with  the  result  that  often  not  a  single 
begrudged  bird  escapes  the  fusillade,  —  a  shooting 
custom  excused  on  the  ground  that  ducks  are 
few  and  far  between.  On  Long  Island  there  are 
a  few  stands  of  live  decoys,  and  farther  south 


1 8  The  Water-fowl  Family 

along  the  coast  the  more  important  clubs  regu- 
larly have  their  pen  of  geese  and  ducks.  The 
difficulty  of  carrying  stool,  in  many  places  out 
of  reach  of  boats,  suggested  the  practicability  of 
canvas  decoys.  These  are  blown  up  like  foot- 
balls and  corked,  their  lightness  and  portability 
being  an  advantage;  but  they  are  difficult  to 
weight  down,  and  bob  around  considerably  in 
any  wind,  and  if  the  sportsman  is  addicted  to 
the  habit  of  shooting  birds  on  the  water,  his 
decoys  are  liable  to  sudden  collapse.  On  the 
marshes  wire  rods  are  sometimes  used  to  support 
the  dead  ducks,  and  these  answer  admirably  as 
decoys,  the  wire  being  slipped  underneath  the 
skin  of  the  neck.  In  cases  of  emergency,  various 
means  are  used  to  attract  the  birds;  lumps  of 
sod  or  bunches  of  seaweed,  in  places  not  much 
gunned,  are  often  effectual.  In  certain  localities 
where  there  is  sea-shooting,  strings  of  bladders 
are  strung  out  from  the  boats.  Flat  decoys  are 
seldom  satisfactory  for  ducks,  as  the  flock,  circling 
around  before  it  lights,  detects  the  difference. 

Considerable  skill  is  required  in  setting  out  the 
stool.  They  should  be  placed  at  just  the  right 
distance  from  the  blind ;  if  on  a  marsh,  in  a  pool 
of  water,  for  the  reflection  then  makes  them  con- 
spicuous from  afar.  It  should  always  be  remem- 
bered that  ducks  come  in  to  decoys  best  against 
the  wind,  and  the  stand  of  stool  should  be  so 


Duck-shooting  19 

located  as  regards  the  blind  that  birds  about  to 
come  need  not  be  forced  too  close  to  the  gunner, 
when  they  inevitably  sheer  off,  giving  a  poor  shot, 
but  in  such  position  that  the  decoying  bird  is  at 
the  easiest  possible  angle  to  shoot.  Next  to  de- 
coys the  blind  is  all-important.  Having  selected 
the  most  favorable  situation  for  it,  the  construc- 
tion depends  on  circumstances.  It  should  re- 
semble closely  the  surroundings  and  be  as  small 
and  inconspicuous  as  possible.  In  exposed  places 
hay,  grass,  or  seaweed  are  often  available  and 
useful;  in  winter,  cakes  of  ice.  If  the  location 
permits  it,  a  pit  can  be  dug  and  a  box  or  barrel 
sunk.  Numerous  portable  blinds  have  been  sug- 
gested, of  canvas  or  other  material ;  but  these 
usually  fail  to  give  much  satisfaction.  Of  the 
various  craft  employed  in  duck-shooting,  it  is  un- 
necessary to  go  into  detail  here.  The  principle 
of  a  duck  boat  depends  upon  whether  it  is  to  be 
used  in  shallow  water  on  marshes  and  flats  or  off- 
shore, where  deep  water  and  sudden  squalls  make 
a  strong  boat  necessary.  The  craft  for  rivers  and 
marshes  should  be  light  and  low,  with  a  flat  bot- 
tom ;  these  boats  are  generally  decked  over. 

Points  and  the  edges  of  marshy  ponds  are 
favorite  locations  for  decoying  ducks,  and  this 
method  of  shooting  is  in  universal  use  along  the 
bays  of  the  coast  and  throughout  the  interior. 
The  sounds  off  the  shores  of  North  Carolina 


20  Tbe  Water-fowl  Family 

have  always  been,  and  are  now,  among  the  most 
famous  resorts  for  water-fowl  in  the  eastern 
United  States.  Most  of  the  available  marshes 
here  are  owned  or  leased  by  clubs.  The  Nar- 
rows Island  Club,  in  Currituck  Sound,  happens 
to  be  the  one  with  which  I  am  familiar.  This 
club-house  is  situated  on  one  of  the  islands  in 
the  bay,  a  short  sail  from  the  mainland.  I  recall 
a  few  pleasant  days  spent  here  not  long  since.  Our 
arrival  was  late  one  Saturday  afternoon.  Sunday 
is  one  of  the  three  days  of  rest  provided  by  law 
for  the  wild  fowl  of  North  Carolina.  In  the  morn- 
ing from  the  lookout  on  the  roof  of  the  house  we 
scanned  the  bay  with  glasses.  Wherever  there 
was  water  there  were  flocks  of  geese  and  ducks. 
Hardly  half  a  mile  from  the  house  a  bank  of  white 
caught  the  eye,  and  six  swan  floated  peacefully  on 
the  quiet  water.  In  the  pond  a  few  feet  from  the 
club  were  a  flock  of  fifteen  or  twenty  mallard; 
until  they  rose  it  never  occurred  to  me  that  they 
were  not  decoys.  With  such  impressions  I  looked 
forward  to  the  first  ducking  day  with  every  antici- 
pation. We  drew  first  choice  and  took  Brant 
Pond;  breakfast  was  served  in  the  dark,  and  when 
we  reached  the  little  sail-boat  off  the  dock,  a  half- 
moon  was  the  only  light.  Our  one  boatman  and 
gunner  stacks  the  decoys  in  the  bow,  and  with 
them  a  crate  with  three  live  ducks.  He  sets  up 
a  small  sail,  and  with  the  faint  breeze  of  early 


Duck-shooting 


21 


morning  we  drift  down  the  channel  into  the  bay. 
In  places  the  little  craft  passes  close  to  the  shore, 
and  every  now  and  then  the  clamorous  quacking 
of  ducks,  startled  by  the  boat's  dim  outline,  breaks 
on  the  air.  The  decoys  in  the  crate  quack  back ; 
presently  a  near-by  honk  tells  of  geese,  and  soon 
we  see  the  dark  line  just  rising  from  the  surface 
of  a  pond  close  by,  warned  by  the  first  streaks 
of  light  that  it  is  leaving  time.  Now  the  bay 
broadens,  and  with  a  fresher  breeze  the  small  boat 
pegs  along  toward  the  island,  the  faint  outline  of 
which  appears  in  front.  Whistling  wings,  high 
overhead,  are  heard,  and  a  flock  of  red-head  in 
wavy  line  pass  to  their  feeding-grounds  farther 
south ;  soon  another  and  several,  keeping  the 
same  course.  These  sights  and  others  make  us 
yearn  for  Brant  Pond;  it  is  still  a  mile  or  more 
away;  the  boat  seems  just  creeping.  The  law 
fixes  the  shooting  hours  as  between  sunrise  and 
sunset,  and  the  sun  is  not  yet  up.  As  we  reach 
the  marsh,  a  narrow  channel  into  the  grass  lies 
just  ahead,  and  through  this  our  craft  is  pushed. 
It  broadens  into  Brant  Pond,  and  presently  we 
find  ourselves  on  the  inner  shore,  close  to  the 
blind.  A  lone  flock  of  black  duck  still  linger 
well  out  of  reach  across  the  pond,  watch  proceed- 
ings a  minute,  and  then  leave.  We  carry  our 
guns  and  shells  to  a  jutting  point  where  a  clump 
of  high  grass  marks  the  blind.  A  flat  plank  on 


22  The  Water-fowl  Family 

stakes  serves  as  a  seat,  and  we  bring  a  box  or  two 
from  the  boat  for  our  cartridges. 

The  decoys  are  being  set ;  twenty-five  or  thirty 
wooden  stool,  mostly  black  duck  and  mallard  with 
a  few  red-head  and  a  string  or  two  of  broadbill, 
comprise  our  stand.  They  are  arranged  in  two 
separate  bunches,  out  far  enough  from  shore  to  be 
conspicuous,  and  in  such  position  that  any  bird 
decoying  will  come  well  to  our  left.  Lastly,  the 
live  decoys  are  staked  out.  We  have  three,  —  two 
drakes  and  a  duck.  The  drakes  are  placed  just 
outside  of  the  wooden  stool ;  each  is  tied  to  a  little 
platform  driven  into  the  shallow  water ;  the  duck 
is  fastened  near  shore.  By  separating  live  decoys 
in  this  way,  they  are  generally  more  noisy.  Sun- 
rise marks  the  hour,  we  are  close  on  time,  the 
expectations  of  the  past  few  days  have  reached 
their  height,  and  some  of  the  countless  flocks  we 
have  seen  will  soon  be  in  evidence ;  but  ducks  are 
uncertain  always  and  hereabouts  well  educated. 

The  hunted  points  and  ponds  are  better  known 
to  every  mallard  than  to  the  gunner ;  they  know 
his  office  hours,  and  are  particular  about  dropping 
in  until  late.  We  watch  a  small  flock  of  ruddy 
duck  diving  in  front,  the  only  inhabitants  of  the 
pond.  There  is  nothing  else  there,  and  nothing 
else  comes.  We  begin  to  experience  change  of 
sentiment,  anticipation  is  on  the  wane,  not  a 
quack  or  a  distant  honk  to  raise  hopes ;  even  the 


Duck-sbooting  23 

live  decoys  have  given  up  getting  excited.  Stories 
of  when  ducks  were  thick  and  a  man  did  business 
all  day,  any  day,  begin  to  get  monotonous.  It  is 
past  noon,  and  the  only  result  of  the  morning  on 
Brant  Pond  is  an  appetite.  We  are  beginning 
to  discuss  pulling  up,  but  finally  comes  a  break: 
a  sudden  sharp  quack  from  our  tame  duck  starts 
the  other  two  live  decoys.  A  single  black  duck 
is  heading  for  the  blind,  way  up,  but  not  too  high 
for  a  shot.  He  comes  straight  overhead  and  gets 
two  barrels,  one  in  the  neck ;  the  next  second  he 
smashes  through  the  grass,  our  first  bird.  Soon 
a  flock  of  mallard  appear  in  front ;  they  answer 
the  decoys,  circle  once,  then  set  their  wings  and 
come.  One  lights,  three  more  hover  close,  four 
shots,  two  drop ;  the  third  sags  off,  hard  hit.  The 
next  arrivals  are  two  pintail ;  the  white  breasts  and 
long  necks  mark  them  at  a  distance ;  they  plunge 
in  to  the  stool,  but  spring  high  as  we  rise  to  shoot, 
and  both  shots  go  underneath.  For  an  hour  a 
little  flight  kept  up,  mostly  mallard  and  black 
duck.  Three  black  duck  drop  in  across  the  pond 
and  swim  up  to  the  decoys.  These  are  the  last. 
The  shot  is  a  sunset  gun.  Fifteen  ducks  in  all. 
As  we  leave  the  marsh,  whistling  wings  proclaim 
beginning  dusk.  All  overhead  seems  ducks ; 
now  and  then  quacks  from  the  long  grass  mark 
the  resting-place  of  mallard.  The  night  residents 
of  Brant  Pond  have  come.  My  first  day's  duck- 


24  The  Water-fowl  Family 

shooting  at  Currituck  comes  to  me  as  I  write 
these  lines.  I  have  shot  over  many  times  the 
first  black  duck  of  that  afternoon,  and  probably  as 
often  missed  that  pair  of  pintail. 

IN  THE  WILD-RICE  FIELDS 

In  a  large  part  of  our  middle  western  country 
are  shallow  marshy  lakes,  surrounded  by  vast 
stretches  of  high  grass  and  wild  rice.  These 
are  the  natural  resorts  of  wild  fowl ;  here  the 
countless  flocks,  wearied  by  the  tiresome  jour- 
ney from  the  north,  gather  with  the  first  frosts 
of  fall,  to  rest  and  feed  and  fatten,  now  in  most 
of  the  old  haunts  a  poor  vestige  of  the  past,  but 
still  in  vast  numbers.  Shooting  in  these  places 
is  often  without  decoys  and  hence  difficult,  the 
birds  sweeping  over  the  marsh  with  speed  un- 
equalled. In  such  resorts  formerly  many  ducks 
bred ;  at  the  present  time  the  summer  residents 
are  principally  a  few  teal  and  shovellers,  with  an 
occasional  mallard.  The  great  throng  of  breed- 
ing ducks  now  pass  farther  on  to  more  northern 
sloughs.  Early  in  September  comes  the  first 
shooting;  the  birds  are  mostly  teal  and  the 
young  of  the  year,  just  able  to  jump  from  the 
grass  a  few  feet  in  front  of  a  flat-bottomed  skiff 
pushed  through  the  water.  Many  are  killed  at 
this  time,  and  hardly  any  bird  ranks  higher  for 
the  table.  Along  the  devious  creeks  that  in 


Duck-shooting  25 

many  places  intersect  the  marshes,  the  pusher 
shoves  his  craft,  with  the  gunner  seated  in  the 
bow  and  ready.  A  swish  of  wings  from  the  dry 
rushes,  and  he  finds  himself  startled  by  a  flock  of 
blackbirds ;  a  bittern  flops  from  the  grass,  and 
with  a  croak  protests  against  intrusion.  Now  a 
bend  is  rounded,  and  close  to  the  bank,  a  few  feet 
in  front,  sit  half  a  dozen  teal.  Instantly  they 
jump,  the  first  shot  misses,  the  second,  steadier, 
breaks  a  wing,  and  the  first  bird  of  the  season 
drops,  a  cripple ;  the  shots  start  half  a  dozen  flocks, 
and  the  skiff  is  quickly  pushed  into  the  grass. 
In  a  moment  four  birds  cut  by,  and  as  they  sheer 
off  from  the  gun,  string  out  in  a  line.  The  first 
is  well  led,  but  at  the  report,  the  last  closes  up  his 
wings  and  falls  with  the  splash  of  a  dead  bird. 
A  few  more  shots  at  passing  birds,  and  you  push 
on.  Soon  with  startled  quacking  a  half-dozen 
black  ducks  spring  into  the  air,  leaving  one 
behind,  hard  hit  with  the  first,  dropped  dead  with 
the  second  shot;  and  so  on  through  the  early 
morning.  Occasionally  the  pusher  calls  in  an 
uncertain  flock,  but  most  of  the  successful  shots 
are  at  birds  jumping  in  close  range,  for  under 
these  circumstances  the  speed  of  flight  is  not 
great.  This  method  of  duck-hunting  belongs 
only  to  the  early  fall,  before  the  young  birds  have 
learned  wisdom  from  experience. 

Later  in  the  autumn  these  same  resorts  wel- 


26  The  Water-fowl  Family 

come  the  northern  hordes.  When  October  ripens 
the  wild  grain,  countless  thousands  gather  in  the 
rice  fields.  On  the  larger  marshes,  any  point  on 
the  feeding-grounds  affords  a  blind.  Early  morn- 
ing and  evening  are  the  moving  times.  With  the 
first  streaks  of  dawn  you  paddle  along  the  reed- 
grown  shore.  The  feeding-grounds  are  marked 
by  the  frequent  clamor  of  resting  birds.  Now 
the  loud  quacking  of  mallard  is  answered  by  a 
flock  overhead,  and  you  see  a  faint  line  in  the 
dim  light  and  hear  the  swish  of  wings.  Soon 
some  ducks  take  wing,  startled  by  the  presence  of 
the  boat,  and  the  noise  and  clatter  they  make  in 
getting  under  way  start  hundreds.  The  air  is 
filled  with  reverberating  wings ;  you  can  hardly 
wait  to  reach  the  point  where  broken  grass  and 
sedge  afford  sufficient  cover  for  the  skiff.  On 
each  side  is  a  considerable  expanse  of  open  water. 
It  is  now  light  enough  to  shoot  if  the  birds  come 
close,  and  hardly  a  minute  before  a  dark  line 
appears,  looking  black  and  large,  against  the 
yellow  background  of  beginning  day.  They  are 
closer  than  you  thought,  and  are  out  of  range 
almost  before  you  break  the  silence  of  morning 
with  the  first  shot.  Frightened  ducks  fill  the  air, 
circle,  and  lead  in  all  directions.  A  bunch  of 
birds  lighter  than  the  others  heads  toward  your 
point ;  alert  at  the  first  motion  in  the  grass  as  you 
slowly  raise  the  gun,  they  flare  up  into  the  air,  all 


Duck-shooting  27 

in  a  huddle,  and  a  well-placed  shot  stops  two,  — 
all,  for  the  last  one  takes  the  second  barrel  as  he 
sheers  off  wounded.  They  are  sprigtail,  the 
wildest  of  the  aggregation.  There  is  no  time  to 
waste ;  flock  after  flock  move  by,  and  for  a  time 
you  hardly  dare  push  out  for  fallen  birds.  Over- 
head, in  front,  and  whistling  wings  behind  cause 
you  to  turn  and  try  a  hopeless  shot  as  a  flock 
swings  out  of  range.  Mallard,  black  duck, 
widgeon,  all  are  there ;  occasionally  a  few  red- 
head, and  some  ducks  of  minor  importance,  but 
the  bag  is  chiefly  mallard.  With  sunrise  the 
birds  are  on  the  wing  and  well  scattered.  As 
they  pass  by  neighboring  points  of  marsh,  boom- 
ing guns  tell  the  same  story ;  there  is  no  safe 
place.  The  shots  are  few,  and  you  make  the  most 
of  them.  A  single  mallard,  high  up,  but  straight 
overhead,  is  the  last.  The  gun  leads  him  a  good 
four  feet,  and  you  hear  the  shot  strike,  a  second 
before  he  doubles  up  and  crashes  through  the 
dry  grass  behind,  a  fall  that  makes  up  for  many 
a  miss.  Shooting  under  these  circumstances  is 
always  difficult,  for  the  birds  are  at  top  speed  and 
all  sorts  of  angles;  yet  the  satisfaction  of  a  clean 
shot  is  doubly  great. 

SHOOTING   FROM   A  BUSH   BLIND 

In  some  of  the  hunting  resorts  of  the  South 
ducks  are  decoyed  from  bush  blinds  staked  out 


28  The  Water-fowl  Family 

in  the  shallow  water.  These  in  many  instances 
are  built  on  the  feeding-grounds  in  the  summer 
and  early  fall,  so  as  to  allow  the  birds  to  become 
accustomed  to  them.  A  bush  blind  consists  of  a 
number  of  tree-tops  driven  into  the  mud,  forming 
a  screen  of  sufficient  height  to  conceal  well  the 
skiff  which  is  pushed  in  at  the  open  end.  A  large 
number  of  decoys  are  then  placed  in  front.  Sev- 
eral years  ago  two  of  us  spent  a  few  days  ducking 
on  the  James  River,  near  Westover.  Our  host 
had  placed  at  our  disposal  everything,  from  his 
house  to  decoys.  We  were  in  charge  of  a  darky 
who  knew  all  the  wiles  of  Virginia  ducks ;  his 
name  was  Wat  Green,  and  no  man,  black  or  white, 
could  equal  Wat  in  the  duck  business.  It  was 
early  Christmas  morning  when  we  were  called  to 
leave  the  comforts  of  bed  for  the  cold  outside.  A 
cup  of  coffee  and  a  roll  served  as  a  starter.  I  look 
back  on  that  cup  of  coffee  as  the  one  thing  that 
carried  me  through  one  of  the  most  uncomfortably 
cold  days  I  ever  faced.  Wat  opened  the  front 
door  and  latched  it  without  a  creak;  we  passed 
out  into  the  cold  morning.  It  was  blowing  a  gale 
and  snowing,  the  first  snow  of  the  season  ;  the  day 
before  had  been  mild  as  summer;  the  contrast 
wasn't  warming.  It  was  only  a  few  steps  to  the 
landing  where  there  was  a  large  boat  well  filled  with 
decoys,  and  a  skiff  which  we  towed  along.  Wat 
rowed,  and  we  envied  him.  The  cold  that  swept 


Duck-shooting  29 

the  river  with  every  blast  of  wind  went  to  the 
bones.  "  We'll  see  canvas  to-day  shuah,"  but  even 
the  thought  of  canvas-back  didn't  warm  up  much. 
It  seemed  a  long  while  before  we  reached  the  bay 
on  the  other  side ;  this  was  covered  with  sheet  ice. 
By  some  misfortune  a  single  duck  about  now 
passed  within  shot  of  the  boat,  and  by  a  still  greater 
misfortune  he  was  winged ;  for  in  attempting  to 
finish  him,  between  the  duck  and  my  companion 
and  Wat,  I  was  landed  feet  first  in  about  four  feet 
of  water  —  a  trifle  high  for  boots.  I  can  feel  myself 
shiver  as  I  recall  it.  There  was  no  going  back ; 
the  only  thing  to  do  was  to  go  ashore  and  build  a 
fire.  Meanwhile  Wat  set  the  decoys  in  front  of 
a  bush  blind  near  shore.  Before  he  had  finished,  a 
flock  of  broadbill  dropped  in ;  this  was  the  signal 
for  getting  started,  and  we  soon  found  ourselves  in 
the  blind,  bobbing  around  in  a  leaky  skiff,  left  to  the 
mercy  of  a  northeast  wind  and  a  snow-storm.  Wat 
went  back  to  the  fire  and  incidentally  put  out  two 
or  three  decoys  offshore.  It  was  a  day  for  ducks 
if  not  for  anything  else.  We  were  scarcely  fixed 
when  over  the  wooded  point  in  front  a  black  line 
appeared;  in  a  few  seconds  it  turned  into  a  flock  of 
broadbill,  and  circling  around  the  cove  headed  for 
the  stool.  There  were  twenty  or  more  ;  they  all 
came  in  and  all  went  out,  though  somebody  fired 
both  barrels.  Another  flock  came  into  sight  from 
the  same  direction  and  presently  were  hovering 


30  The  Water-fowl  Family 

over  the  decoys.  We  both  fired,  and  not  a  bird 
stopped.  How  many  times  this  happened  I  do  not 
know.  My  one  recollection  of  this  day  was  a 
continual  flight  of  ducks.  It  was  simply  impos- 
sible to  shoot.  Choppy  water  and  a  leaky  boat 
kept  one  of  us  busy  continually.  We  took  turns 
holding  the  skiff  still  while  the  other  man  fired. 
We  tried  holding  on  to  the  stake  with  one  hand 
and  shooting  with  the  other.  It  was  hopeless ;  the 
sleet  and  snow  were  blinding  as  we  faced  the 
wind.  Wet  cartridges  stuck  and  the  guns  would 
hardly  open  and  shut;  but  ducks  there  were,  a 
steady  stream,  small  strings  leading  over  the  point, 
coming  with  the  wind,  swooping  by  the  decoys  and 
dropping  among  the  stool.  The  birds  were  mostly 
broadbill,  occasionally  black  duck.  From  out  a 
flock  of  mallard  a  single  green-head  circled  in, 
and  hovered,  close  in  front,  the  first  we  had  seen. 
"  That  mallard's  mine,"  and  gathering  together  the 
little  strength  left,  I  let  him  have  both  barrels  to 
find  I'd  lied,  —  he  didn't  even  leave  a  feather.  As 
I  remember,  the  next  bird  was  a  black  duck.  He 
didn't  come  in,  but  just  manoeuvred  around  about 
a  gunshot  and  a  half  off.  By  one  of  the  most 
unholy  shots  I  ever  saw,  my  cold  partner  in  the 
other  end  of  the  skiff  let  him  down  ;  he  fell  with  a 
broken  wing.  Wat  finished  him.  There  was  no 
cessation  in  the  shooting ;  we  had  probably  in  our 
crippled  condition  shot  away  fifty  shells  apiece, 


Duck-sbooting  31 

and  I  believe  could  easily  have  tripled  the  number 
under  ordinary  circumstances.  But  soon  came  an 
incident  which  marked  a  bitter  day  with  a  bright 
line,  and  I  see  that  flock  of  ducks  as  I  write. 
There  were  six,  and,  as  out  of  the  storm  they  came, 
straight  for  the  blind,  the  brick-colored  head  of 
the  leader  and  his  white  back  marked  their  na- 
tionality. They  were  canvas-back,  and  what's 
more,  our  first.  The  flock  turned  out  of  range 
of  the  stool,  but  the  old  drake  didn't,  he  just 
plunged  ahead  and  came  right  over  us  about 
forty  feet  up.  I  remember  gripping  the  stake 
in  front  with  one  hand  and  just  shooting  straight 
up  in  the  air;  a  mighty  big  splash  told  some- 
thing had  happened.  I  turned  around  and  saw 
him,  a  little  way  off  and  right  side  up,  but  shot 
through  the  head.  This  was  the  finish ;  we 
could  stick  it  out  no  longer.  Wat  picked  up 
the  stool ;  he  had  killed  six  ducks  from  the  shore. 
The  total  bag  was  eight ;  our  clothes  were  stiff 
with  ice.  Then  comes  the  remembrance  of  lying 
on  the  floor  in  front  of  the  blazing  fire  of  pine 
knots  in  William  Knox's  house.  A  knock  on  the 
door,  it  was  Wat.  "  Have  some  hot  whiskey,  sah  ?  " 
I  often  think,  in  looking  back  on  some  ducking 
days,  that  much  of  the  real  fascination  lies  in  the 
comfort  and  warmth  that  sooner  or  later  relieve 
the  misery  of  wet  and  cold. 


32  The  Water-fowl  Family 

BATTERY   SHOOTING 

Battery  shooting  is  practised  more  or  less  all 
along  the  coast  and  occasionally  inland.  The 
battery,  when  well  built  and  equipped,  is  the 
deadliest  of  all  the  different  methods  of  decoy 
shooting.  In  fact,  the  destruction  of  ducks  by 
this  method  has  been  legislated  against  in  many 
of  the  resorts  for  wild  fowl,  in  others  limited  to 
a  certain  number  of  days,  and  some  states  permit 
only  residents  this  privilege ;  but  the  same  provi- 
dent states  allow  any  one  to  become  a  native  for 
five  dollars  —  this  is  true  in  North  Carolina.  The 
battery  is  a  coffin-like  box  so  shaped  that  it  con- 
ceals one  or  two  men  when  lying  at  full  length ; 
it  is  provided  with  head  and  tail  pieces  of  canvas 
to  break  the  force  of  the  waves,  and  weighted 
down  so  the  sides  are  just  above  the  level  of  the 
water.  From  this  description  it  can  readily  be 
seen  that  moderately  calm  weather  is  essential 
for  successful  shooting.  Painted  lead  color  and 
carefully  concealed  by  a  hundred  or  more  decoys, 
few  ducks,  however  wild,  will  distinguish  the 
counterfeit  if  their  line  of  flight  is  near  by.  A 
good-sized  boat  known  as  the  tender  is  required 
to  carry  a  battery  and  the  necessary  stool.  This 
lies  off  at  a  sufficient  distance  from  the  gunner 
to  pick  up  his  birds,  and  otherwise  attend  to  him 
should  emergency  arise. 


Duck-shooting  33 

Long  Island  has  always  been  a  resort  for 
battery  shooting,  more  especially  toward  the  east- 
ern end  of  Great  South  Bay.  It  was  here,  several 
years  ago,  a  party  of  us  enjoyed  a  good  day's 
shooting.  We  reached  Bellport  late  in  the  after- 
noon, and  went  aboard  a  small  sloop.  There  was 
a  fair  wind,  and  presently  we  found  ourselves 
drifting  at  a  rapid  rate  toward  the  outer  beach. 
The  change  from  city  life  to  Great  South  Bay  was 
a  pleasing  one,  and  as  the  chill  of  an  October  even- 
ing began  to  be  marked  on  the  water  by  the  last 
glittering  of  sunset,  we  drew  on  our  coats  and 
jerseys.  The  bay  was  hardly  ruffled  by  the  faint 
breeze,  yet  the  way  oyster  stakes  disappeared  be- 
hind indicated  that  a  tide  was  running  'with  us. 
As  the  dark  line  of  ocean  beach  looms  up,  on  all 
sides  jutting  points  of  sedge  and  grass,  with  out- 
lying marshy  islands,  bring  up  thoughts  of  ducks. 
The  keel  grates  and  we  anchor.  A  small  boat 
is  ready,  and  an  old  man  pushes  us  ashore.  It 
is  only  a  step  to  the  little  weather-beaten  shanty 
almost  hidden  among  the  dunes,  in  which  a 
single  room  contains  around  its  walls  a  tier  of 
bunks.  In  one  end  a  fireplace,  blazing  with  dry 
driftwood,  lights  everything  about.  A  big  bowl 
on  the  table  steams  with  oyster  broth,  and  Uncle 
Dan  can't  ladle  it  out  fast  enough.  Then  some 
clam  fritters  and  one  cup  of  coffee  all  around. 
I  think,  with  all  the  excitement  and  expectation 

D 


34  The  Water-fowl  Family 

for  the  morning,  there  wasn't  one  of  us  who 
wouldn't  have  had  that  evening  go  on  forever; 
but  at  nine  o'clock  Uncle  Dan  quit  telling  stones, 
and  reached  up  on  a  shelf  for  an  alarm  clock, 
which  he  wound  and  set  at  three.  We  pushed 
our  bench  back  and  unlatched  the  door.  It  was 
a  bright  moonlight  night,  and  the  sound  of 
pounding  surf  attracted  us;  we  stood  for  a  few 
minutes  on  the  beach,  looking  out  on  the  white 
streaks  of  ocean,  when  Uncle  Dan's  voice  broke 
the  spell,  "  Get  to  bed,  boys."  To  turn  in  under 
these  circumstances  was  an  insult  to  the  night, 
but  Dan  Petty  was  boss  down  Bellport  way,  and 
we  turned  in ;  no  one  of  us  slept,  not  a  wink. 
We  counted  seconds,  prayed  for  the  alarm  to 
ring,  and  meanwhile  listened  to  the  noises  of  the 
night.  There  was  the  sublime  roar  of  the  sea 
and  Uncle  Dan ;  when  they  came  together,  Uncle 
Dan  drowned  out  the  sea.  He  snored  fast  and 
slow,  then  tunes,  and  just  honked  on  until  three 
A.M.  The  relief  of  that  alarm  !  Before  it  finished 
ringing,  we  were  all  moving  around.  "  Don't 
wake  up,  boys;  you've  got  one  hour's  more  sleep." 
The  longest  hour  yet,  and  then  a  breakfast  of 
clam  fritters  and  pancakes.  It  is  a  good  while 
still  before  daylight  when  we  start,  a  mist  hangs 
over  all  around,  and  just  a  light  breeze  from  the 
east  predicts  a  good  battery  day.  The  sail  is 
being  hauled  and  the  anchor  weighed ;  a  minute 


Duck-shooting  35 

more  and  the  sloop  disappears,  leaving  me  with 
Uncle  Dan.  "We'll  take  the  single  box  and  go 
to  Hospital." 

Hospital  Point  lay  to  the  east  a  mile,  and  we 
started  for  it  in  a  good-sized  punty,  towing  a  single 
battery  behind.  It  was  slow  going,  but  in  time 
we  were  there.  The  only  scenery  so  far  was  mist. 
We  anchored  the  battery  about  two  hundred 
yards  off  the  point,  on  a  shallow  bar.  It  is 
weighted  down  close  to  the  level  of  the  water  by 
heavy  iron  decoys ;  then  we  set  the  stool,  a  few 
behind,  but  the  large  body  in  front ;  and  when  the 
last  decoy  is  thrown  out,  standing  a  gunshot  off, 
it  is  hardly  possible  to  realize  we  aren't  in  front 
of  a  big  raft  of  ducks.  "  Get  in ;  you  won't  wait 
long ;  I'll  pick  up  the  birds  from  the  point  beyond ; 
keep  in  the  box  and  keep  down,"  and  old  Dan 
pushed  himself  out  of  sight.  Left  alone  by  my 
tender,  I  stretched  out,  and  soon  came  to  the  con- 
clusion there  are  few  things  harder  than  a  hard- 
wood floor,  not  a  cushion  or  pillow  or  anything  else, 
and  finally  I  wrapped  my  coat  around  a  decoy ; 
this  serves  as  a  prop  and  helps  a  bit.  It  is  still 
foggy,  but  a  light  breeze  is  rolling  up  the  banks 
of  mist,  and  except  for  this,  it  is  light  enough 
to  shoot.  Now  the  first  birds  of  the  morning 
come  in  sight,  a  great  mass  far  out  over  the  bay. 
Flying  in  undulating  line,  they  appear  high  over 
the  water,  and  the  next  minute  are  out  of  sight 


36  The  Water-fowl  Family 

in  a  fog  bank.  A  number  of  little  strings  follow. 
This  keeps  up  a  few  minutes^  when  a  splash  in 
front  causes  me  to  turn  —  a  single  old  squaw  sits 
among  the  stool,  embarrassed  and  confused;  I 
have  no  use  for  old  squaws,  and  finally  it  paddles 
out,  leaving  with  a  grunt  of  disgust.  Broadbill 
are  leading  now  just  outside,  and  soon  a  flock 
of  four  swerve  off  and  head  for  the  decoys.  In 
the  light  of  sunrise  they  look  black  and  big,  — 
right  at  the  edge  of  the  stool,  on  wings  set,  they 
slope  in,  an  easy  mark ;  and  as  the  smoke  clears 
only  two  depart.  The  reports  resounding  over 
the  bay  start  a  multitude  of  ducks  ;  rising  high, 
they  break  up  into  countless  numbers  of  little 
bunches,  always  a  promising  sign.  Presently 
eight  come  in  and  leave  three  —  two  as  the  flock 
swings  in  line,  the  third  before  they  recover.  A 
pair  and  then  four  more ;  broadbill  seem  every- 
where, and  come  in  thick  and  fast,  so  far  all  from 
the  right  direction,  straight  in  front.  A  booming 
far  to  the  east,  four  guns  often  at  once,  marks  the 
position  of  the  double  battery,  and  a  cloud  of 
ducks  in  sight  over  the  horizon  in  the  same  direc- 
tion indicates  the  others  are  busy.  The  pleasant 
feature  of  my  position  is  that  the  water  is  so 
shallow  that  I  can  pick  up  my  own  birds,  and 
soon  the  limited  quarters  of  the  box  are  filled. 
With  the  exception  of  a  single  red-head,  they  are 
all  broadbill.  A  large  flock  in  front  and  I  hurry 


Duck-shooting  37 

back;  in  a  minute  they  are  all  over  me;  as  I  sit 
up  ducks  rise  on  all  sides,  and  in  the  confusion 
depart  without  a  shot.  A  pair  of  black  duck 
come  by  the  point  toward  the  stool,  a  rare  chance, 
and  I  move  too  soon ;  the  birds  were  farther  off 
than  they  seemed  ;  but  one,  hard  hit,  turns  off  to 
the  farther  point,  and  I  trust  him  to  Dan.  The 
steady  flight  has  now  decreased ;  yet  every  little 
while  ducks  hail  the  stool  in  twos  and  threes,  and 
there  is  plenty  doing.  A  long,  black  line  far  out 
on  the  water  marks  a  bed  of  birds,  and  toward 
this  the  smaller  bodies  lead ;  before  noon  they 
are  all  assembled  and  the  morning  shooting 
ceases.  I  see  Dan  Petty  shoving  along  the  marsh. 
He  has  half  a  dozen  birds  on  the  deck  of  the 
punty,  and  the  grand  total  is  two  dozen  broad- 
bill,  a  red-head,  and  a  black  duck.  Half  an  hour 
later  we  all  get  together  aboard  the  sloop  for 
lunch.  This  particular  day's  shooting  was  one 
of  my  pleasantest  experiences  in  the  battery. 
The  number  of  birds  killed  was  small,  but  they 
came  in  well,  and  few  shots  were  missed. 

In  battery  shooting,  birds  coming  in  from 
behind  and  on  the  right  are  very  liable  to 
escape  a  right-handed  gunner,  and  if  possible 
they  should  be  decoyed  from  in  front  and  to 
the  left.  Great  South  Bay  is  still  famous  for 
battery  shooting;  and,  though  cruelly  shot,  big 
bags  are  now  made,  but  the  Long  Island  sports- 


38  The  Water-fowl  Family 

man  has  long  since  been  obliged  to  get   along 
without  the  services  of  Dan  Petty. 

BRANT-SHOOTING 

Brant  are  exclusively  a  coast  bird,  and  never 
occur  inland ;  they  frequent  the  larger  bays  and 
sounds  along  the  coast,  but  have  favorite  stopping- 
places  on  their  flight  to  and  fro  from  the  breed- 
ing-grounds in  the  remotest  corners  of  the  north. 
Their  spring  flight  differs  somewhat  from  the 
fall  —  wintering  in  the  brackish  sounds  of  Vir- 
ginia and  North  Carolina,  when  the  first  warm 
winds  of  March  warn  them  of  approaching  spring, 
the  immense  hordes  assembled  here  become  rest- 
less, small  bands  separate,  and  striking  out  to  sea 
begin  their  weary  flight.  From  Virginia  many 
pass  direct  to  Cape  Cod  ;  some  collect  for  a  short 
time  in  the  bays  of  New  Jersey  and  Long  Island. 

Early  in  March  the  few  brant  that  have  win- 
tered on  Cape  Cod  begin  to  be  augmented  by 
relays  from  the  south;  these  come  thick  and 
fast,  so  that  by  the  middle  of  the  month  Chatham 
Bay  sees  them  in  thousands ;  their  arrival  has 
been  prepared  for;  all  of  the  farther  bars  have 
been  fortified.  In  every  favorite  spot  along  their 
course  sink  boxes  have  been  placed.  Wherever 
a  sand  bar  is  exposed  at  high  water  it  conceals  a 
box.  These  are  large  enough  to  hold  three  men, 
and  are  supposed  to  be  water-tight,  but  generally 


Duck-shooting  39 

require  frequent  bailing.  Every  care  is  taken  of 
the  sink  box ;  at  low  tide  wheelbarrows  of  sand 
and  gravel  are  dumped  around  its  edges  to  fill 
in  the  spaces  washed  away;  sacks  of  sand  are 
often  stacked  around  it  to  serve  as  a  solid 
foundation ;  gradually  in  this  way  a  bar  is  formed 
which  slopes  up  to  the  level  of  the  box.  This  is 
surrounded  by  a  large  number  of  stool,  a  hun- 
dred or  more,  to  which  are  added  a  few  live  birds, 
tied  out  in  conspicuous  places  and  generally  con- 
nected by  a  string  with  the  blind,  so  if  circum- 
stances require  they  can  be  forced  to  perform. 
At  Cape  Cod  now  large  numbers  of  stool  are 
very  important,  and  live  birds  are  absolutely 
essential. 

As  to  the  brant,  constant  persecution  has  made 
them,  of  all  birds,  wary,  as  wise  perhaps  as  geese. 
They  avoid  the  bars  and  blinds  in  spite  of  all  in- 
ducements, and  keeping  together  in  vast  throngs 
lay  their  course  over  open  water.  Many  feed  on 
the  flats,  dipping  their  necks  down  in  the  shallow 
water,  but  never  diving ;  and  hence  their  feeding 
depth  is  marked  by  their  length.  With  the  rising 
tide  the  birds  are  drifted  from  the  flats  and  gradu- 
ally float  toward  the  shore,  all  in  one  vast  aggre- 
gation. This  is  a  critical  time.  The  three  men 
in  the  sink  box  lie  low.  Slowly  and  surely  ap- 
proach the  mass  of  birds ;  the  water  is  black  with 
them.  Constant  discordant  notes  from  the  assem- 


40  Tbe  Water-fowl  Family  - 

bly,  honks  of  satisfaction,  honks  of  suspicion,  yet 
not  a  bird  leaves.  The  closer  they  get  to  the 
sand  bar  where  a  sizable  flock  rests  uncon- 
cerned, and  a  few  live  decoys  every  now  and 
then  flap  their  wings,  the  more  suspicious  they 
become.  A  few  separate  from  the  main  throng 
and  swim  toward  the  decoys.  With  the  utmost 
manoeuvring  and  good  luck,  this  flock  of  six  is 
brought  within  range.  The  three  gunners  who 
have  been  twisted  up  in  bow-knots  for  an  hour 
get  untied  and  let  go.  Brant  have  the  habit, 
possessed  by  some  other  birds,  of  getting  close 
together  when  they  are  startled,  and  the  first  two 
shots,  if  well  placed,  have  probably  attended  to 
half  the  flock,  and  it  is  fair  to  presume  the  other 
half  don't  stand  much  chance  with  two  whole 
guns  left.  With  the  reports  there  is  such  a 
splashing  and  commotion  that  Chatham  Bay 
hasn't  seen  since  the  last  high  tide,  and  several 
acres  of  brant  start  out  for  safer  quarters.  This 
is  the  end  for  the  present  tide,  and  nowadays 
considerably  more  than  the  average  end.  On 
some  few  occasions,  however,  conditions  favor 
the  sportsman.  Wind  and  heavy  weather  inter- 
fere with  the  regular  brant  programme.  The 
birds,  at  the  first  indication  of  rising  tide,  become 
uneasy  and  restless ;  small  numbers  separate  and 
little  strings  of  four  to  ten  lead  up  the  bay.  This 
is  a  day  of  days  —  they  come  to  the  blind,  the 


Duck-shooting  41 

wavy  line  circles  in  over  the  decoys,  hovers,  and 
lights.  Very  few  of  the  smaller  flocks  depart, 
three  out  of  four,  three  straight,  three  out  of  five 
—  it  doesn't  take  long  to  run  up  a  score.  For  a 
short  time  the  flight  is  thick  and  fast,  the  birds 
pile  in,  but  with  high  water  comes  a  let-up. 
There  are  instances  of  sixty  birds  being  killed 
in  this  way  from  a  single  box  at  one  tide ;  but  the 
average  at  the  branting  shanties,  during  the 
season  now,  is  probably  nearer  nothing  than  six. 

BRANT-SHOOTING  IN   VIRGINIA 

Along  the  Virginia  coast,  reaching  south  to 
South  Carolina,  are  a  series  of  shallow  bays,  sepa- 
rated from  the  ocean  by  a  narrow  strip  of  land, 
their  shores  lined  with  marshes  and  marshy 
islands.  Here  is  the  winter  home  of  the  brant. 
The  first  flocks  arrive  early  in  November,  and  by 
December  the  large  body  has  accumulated  on  the 
first  resting-place  since  leaving  the  Arctic  shores. 
At  first  the  birds  keep  pretty  much  to  the  open 
channel  and  deeper  portions  of  the  bay ;  remain- 
ing in  huge  masses,  they  move  to  and  fro  from 
the  feeding-grounds  as  the  tide  affords  oppor- 
tunity. These  flats  are  covered  in  many  places 
by  patches  of  thin  eel-grass,  and  this  is  their  food. 
As  the  brant  does  not  dive,  it  is  evident  low 
water  is  essential  for  its  feeding.  Long  before 
the  arrival,  their  coming  has  been  anticipated. 


42  The  Water-fowl  Family 

About  all  the  favorite  bars  and  flats  brush  blinds 
have  been  built.  These  are  composed  of  green 
cedar  tops  staked  out  early  in  the  fall,  forming 
a  sufficient  cover  for  a  good-sized  flat-bottom  boat. 
At  high  water  many  of  the  blinds  are  entirely 
submerged,  while  when  the  tide  is  out  they  are 
exposed  for  a  distance  of  four  or  five  feet.  With 
early  winter  come  the  first  opportunities  for  gun- 
ning. For  weeks  the  birds  have  been  watched 
for  the  right  chance,  and  now  it  is  at  hand.  The 
weather  for  the  past  few  days  has  been  threaten- 
ing, stormy,  and  rough.  Finally  a  brisk  breeze 
from  the  east  promises  the  first  good  day.  A  flat- 
bottomed  sloop  lies  anchored  off  one  of  the  flats. 
Tied  to  her  stern  are  two  small  dinks,  stacked 
high  with  stool.  For  a  week  brant  have  been 
leading  up  the  bay  to  this  particular  shoal,  spend- 
ing the  time  of  low  water  on  the  bars,  then 
moving  out  in  vast  rafts  to  the  channel.  Persist- 
ing wind,  however,  has  broken  up  the  masses  of 
birds,  and  indications  for  the  morning  could 
hardly  be  improved.  In  the  evening  a  party  of 
gunners  gather  around  the  little  stove,  which 
barely  warms  the  cabin.  It  is  cold,  and  outside 
the  wind  howls,  while  every  now  and  then  comes 
a  wild  sound,  a  sound  that  stirs  the  heart  of  him 
who  has  heard  it  before.  At  times  a  perfect  din, 
it  seems  close  to  the  boat,  but  in  reality  is  a  mile 
or  more  away.  Brant  are  gathered  on  the  bar. 


Duck-shooting  43 

There  is  little  sleeping ;  every  man  waits  for  the 
morning  call.  With  the  first  light  the  disturbers 
of  the  night  are  seen,  a  long  black  line  of  bedded 
birds,  quietly  drifting  bayward  with  the  falling 
tide.  Now  the  top  of  a  blind,  barely  showing 
over  the  water,  seems  in  their  midst.  It  will  be 
two  hours  yet  before  the  blinds  will  be  sufficiently 
exposed  to  hide  the  dinks,  and  there  is  plenty  of 
time  for  breakfast.  The  brush  tops  grow  bigger 
slowly,  but  finally  the  two  small  boats  leave  the 
sloop.  They  are  broad  and  low,  with  bows  decked 
over.  Each  carries  about  forty  stool.  A  short 
pull  over  the  flats,  and  every  now  and  then  a  flock 
of  small  ducks  leave  the  water,  and  an  occasional 
belated  black  duck  quacks  a  protest  as  he  wings 
his  way  from  the  marsh.  A  far-off  mass  of  broad- 
bill  rises  high  in  the  air,  marks  the  horizon  with 
a  wavy  line,  then  settles  down  with  a  roar  of  wings 
that  is  heard  two  miles  away.  No  brant  are  in 
sight.  The  blind  in  front  is  reached  first,  and  the 
stool  are  set.  The  task  is  a  cold  one.  There  is 
little  mercy  in  the  weather.  But  finally  they  are 
all  strung  out  in  a  line  to  the  left,  so  that  birds 
stooling  will  come  in  against  the  wind  in  the  best 
position.  The  dink  is  shoved  into  the  blind.  It 
fits  exactly.  The  tops  barely  cover  the  deck.  A 
crosspiece  of  brush  hides  the  stern.  The  tide  is 
still  high,  and  it  will  be  two  hours  yet  before  the 
bar  is  near  the  surface.  The  wind  comes  fresher, 


44  The  Water-fowl  Family 

with  now  and  then  a  flurry  of  snow,  which  is 
somewhat  uncomfortable  but  welcome.  No  better 
day  was  ever  made  for  brant.  There  is  perhaps 
half  an  hour  of  shivering  expectation,  but  a  cer- 
tainty about  it  which  is  more  or  less  warming. 
Finally  a  black  line  appears  far  out  in  the  bay. 
It  grows  bigger,  and  there  is  no  mistaking  it. 
Now  the  ronk-r-r-r-ronk  is  heard.  The  gunner 
in  the  stern  calls  back,  and  the  birds  lead  toward 
the  decoys  with  excited  cries.  The  wind  keeps 
them  close  to  the  water,  and  as  they  rise  it  beats 
them  back.  There  must  be  fifty  in  the  bunch, 
and  they  are  near  the  stool.  Now  on  set  wings 
they  sail  almost  within  range,  but  turn  away  just 
as  the  shot  seems  sure.  They  circle  back  of  the 
blind ;  again  set  their  wings  and  head  for  the 
stool ;  but,  suspicious,  sheer  off  and  lead  toward 
the  farther  shore.  A  second  bunch  appears  from 
the  same  direction,  taking  the  same  course  as  the 
first.  They  circle  about  the  decoys,  and  finally, 
about  to  turn,  an  impatient  shot  rings  out,  and 
a  bird  sags  away  from  the  flock,  hard  hit,  to  fall 
dead  a  hundred  yards  away.  Soon  line  after  line 
comes  into  sight  from  out  over  the  bay,  almost  in 
military  array.  The  blind  now  conceals  the  boat 
well,  and  the  birds  do  not  show  quite  the  same 
hesitation  about  coming  in.  Presently  twenty  or 
more  brant  gracefully  circle  the  decoys,  and  then 
sail  up  to  within  twenty  yards  of  the  guns.  They 


Duck-shooting  45 

look  black  and  big.  Startled  they  rise  together, 
their  white  breasts  showing  as  they  turn.  Four 
quick  shots ;  six  fall.  It  is  necessary  to  retrieve 
them  at  once  if  at  all,  and  the  boat  pushes  out. 
It  takes  fifteen  minutes  to  round  up  the  last,  and 
half  a  dozen  chances  have  been  lost ;  but  the  air 
is  still  full  of  birds,  and  a  flock  comes  in  as  soon 
as  the  cover  is  reached.  A  little  to  the  right,  and 
a  hard  shot,  but  one  splashes  and  a  second  leaves 
the  others.  Four  separate  from  a  bunch  and 
hover.  All  are  killed.  The  boat  is  pushed  out 
and  back  again,  and  only  the  birds  dead  close  to 
the  blind  are  picked  up.  Brant  seem  everywhere: 
leading  in  over  the  decoys,  and  at  the  shots  turn- 
ing back  toward  the  bay,  heading  up  in  the  direc- 
tion of  the  bar,  showing  first  black,  then  white,  as 
the  backs  or  breasts  come  into  view ;  keeping  up 
all  the  time  an  incessant  noise.  Shooting  has 
been  fast,  and  the  dink  has  pushed  out  a  dozen 
times  or  more  for  dead  birds.  A  huge  mass 
heave  in  sight  —  hundreds;  there  is  just  time  to 
ambush  the  boat.  On  they  come,  straight  for 
the  stool ;  the  air  is  black  with  them,  overhead 
and  on  all  sides.  Both  guns  are  emptied,  and  it 
rains  brant.  Nine  dead,  and  several  wounded 
mark  the  wake.  The  flight  for  a  time  is  con- 
tinual. The  minutes  out  of  the  blind  seem  ages, 
but  a  falling  tide  saves  further  destruction,  and 
the  strings  of  birds  no  longer  hail.  They  have 


46  The  Water-fowl  Family 

bedded  far  out  in  the  bay,  where  they  will  rest  in 
peace  until  the  next  combination  of  an  east  wind 
with  an  ebb  tide.  Now  low  water  leaves  some  of 
the  stool  almost  dry  on  the  bar;  it  is  possible  to 
wade  out  and  pick  them  up.  As  the  dink  is 
headed  for  home,  the  bow  is  piled  high  with 
brant,  some  forty  odd. 

DUCK-SHOOTING  AT  LONG  POINT 

Among  the  most  famous  places  for  wild  ducks 
at  the  present  time  are  the  marshes  on  the  north 
shore  of  Lake  Erie,  owned  by  the  Long  Point 
Company.  Long  Point  consists  of  a  peninsula 
some  twenty  miles  in  length  and  from  four  to  six 
miles  wide,  making  a  shallow  bay  along  the  lake. 
This  narrow  strip  is  almost  a  continuous  marsh, 
broken  up  everywhere  by  ponds,  its  edges  bor- 
dered in  places  with  woods.  Through  the  summer 
the  marsh  is  the  breeding-ground  of  many  black 
duck  and  teal.  Mallards  and  shovellers  nest  there 
more  sparingly.  It  is  a  satisfactory  fact  that  since 
spring  shooting  has  been  abolished  the  number  of 
ducks  here  has  increased  surprisingly  through  the 
summer.  Early  in  the  fall,  blue-winged  teal  and 
black  duck  are  most  in  evidence ;  but  there  are 
also  wood-duck  in  some  quantity,  although  here, 
as  elsewhere,  the  wood-duck  has  disappeared 
markedly  in  the  past  few  years.  With  the  first 
cold  days  of  October,  the  summer  residents  begin 


Duck-sbooting  47 

to  be  augmented  by  the  relays  from  the  north,  and 
by  the  last  of  the  month  the  shooting  is  in  its 
prime.  A  few  hours  from  Buffalo  lands  the  fortu- 
nate member  of  this  club  on  a  dock  in  a  small 
Canadian  town,  where  a  steamer  is  in  readiness  to 
transport  him  to  the  club  on  the  other  side.  It  is 
perhaps  eight  miles  across,  and  almost  from  the 
moment  of  leaving  the  sights  on  all  sides  make 
him  yearn  for  what  is  to  come.  Flocks  of  red- 
head and  canvas-back  rise  from  the  water;  a  raft 
of  broadbill  leave  their  resting-place  in  the  bay,  to 
pass  out  of  sight  in  undulating  line.  Every  now 
and  then  widgeon  are  in  evidence,  soaring  high  as 
they  take  flight.  Ducks  on  all  sides  make  way 
for  the  craft,  and  the  distant  booming  of  guns 
away  off  on  the  marsh  tells  what  is  going  on  be- 
yond. The  little  mark  on  the  low  line  of  land, 
which  at  first  appeared  a  mere  dot  in  the  distance, 
has  taken  on  proportions,  and  after  a  sail  of  an 
hour  and  a  half  a  collection  of  low  buildings  ap- 
pears in  front  of  the  steamer.  In  a  few  minutes 
more  she  ties  to  the  dock,  and  bags,  baggage,  and 
sportsmen  are  unloaded.  It  is  too  late  in  the  after- 
noon to  shoot,  but  there  is  much  in  the  way  of 
preparation.  A  warden  shows  the  individual  his 
cottage,  and  ushers  him  into  a  room  warmed  by  a 
blazing  fire.  Everything  is  in  readiness.  Before 
the  trunk  comes  a  "  punter  "  is  on  hand  to  help  in 
straightening  things  out.  He  unpacks  the  guns 


48  The  Water-fowl  Family 

and,  after  an  extra  greasing,  puts  them  in  the  rack, 
unlocks  the  cartridge  room,  and  fills  the  "  kit " 
with  some  three  hundred  shells.  The  lucky 
sportsman  who  is  to  dwell  in  this  spot  for  two 
weeks  gets  out  of  travelling  clothes  and  proceeds 
to  ask  all  manner  of  questions,  which  only  serve 
to  make  him  more  restless  and  uneasy  than  he  was 
before.  He  walks  out.  A  wooden  walk,  built  high 
on  spiles,  leads  to  the  administration  building.  On 
the  marsh  side  of  this  platform  are  some  dozen  or 
more  cottages,  all  of  them  built  out  of  the  reach  of 
high  water.  In  front  of  each  is  a  boat-house,  with 
its  duck-house  on  the  side.  One  or  two  of  these 
well  filled  bear  evidence  of  good  shooting.  About 
the  dock  some  hell-divers  dip  up  and  down.  A 
gunshot  off  in  the  creek,  a  flock  of  broadbill  feed 
undisturbed.  The  very  atmosphere  suggests 
ducks.  A  winding  stair  leads  to  a  lookout  on 
the  top  of  the  administration  house.  From  here 
a  view  is  had  of  portions  of  the  neighboring  marsh. 
A  large  body  of  water  in  front  is  the  Island  Pond. 
Even  to  the  naked  eye  flocks  of  duck  are  apparent 
on  the  water.  With  glasses  it  seems  to  be  all 
dotted  over,  though  most  of  the  ducks  turn  out  to 
be  mud-hens.  Against  the  farther  edge  is  a  line 
of  birds  easily  made  out;  their  light  backs  mark 
them  as  canvas-back,  and  in  the  light  of  sunset 
they  shine.  With  the  last  rays  of  day  the  new 
arrival  to  this  duck  paradise  looks  out  on  the 


Duck-shooting  49 

marshes  and  ponds,  and  keeps  looking.  There 
is  nothing  now  until  dinner.  At  seven  the  bell 
rings,  and  he  finds  himself  face  to  face  with  a 
venison  steak  and  a  roasted  black  duck.  A  white 
pintail  and  a  white  muskrat  are  among  the  inter- 
esting adornments  on  the  wall  of  the  dining  room. 
Two  pair  of  deer  antlers,  locked  as  they  fell,  hang 
in  the  hall.  Records  of  duck-shooting  in  muzzle- 
loader  times  are  on  file,  and,  strange  to  say,  many 
of  the  recent  ones  are  better. 

With  the  morning  comes  a  clear,  cold  day  and 
a  northwest  wind.  Club  rules  prohibit  the  dis- 
turbing of  the  marsh  before  9  A.M.,  so  there  is 
plenty  of  time.  Occasional  flocks  of  black  duck 
and  teal  rise  up  from  the  ponds  in  sight  of  the 
house,  and  settle  down  again  just  beyond.  The 
punter  is  getting  ready.  He  picks  out  some  thirty 
or  more  decoys,  mostly  black  duck  and  mallard, 
throws  an  armful  of  dry  grass  in  the  boat,  brings 
the  guns  and  ammunition,  and  lastly  the  lunch 
pail.  The  craft  is  a  light  round-bottomed  boat ; 
and  after  the  gunner  has  made  himself  comfortable 
in  the  bow,  with  a  push  it  glides  off.  Down  the 
creek  a  half  mile,  and  the  punt  is  turned  through 
a  little  cut  into  the  marsh.  A  number  of  mud- 
hens  have  been  disturbed,  and  occasionally  black 
duck  have  jumped  from  the  sedge  in  range,  but 
no  shot  is  allowed  en  route.  The  narrow  ditch 
broadens  into  a  pond,  and  hundreds  of  ducks  rise 


50  The  Water-fowl  Family 

as  the  boat  appears.  Stakes  on  the  other  side 
mark  the  course,  and  through  a  continuation  of 
ditches  and  creeks  the  punter  shoves.  Ducks  are 
everywhere,  —  jumping  before  the  boat,  circling 
about  the  marsh,  starting  up  other  flocks,  then 
dropping  down,  loath  to  leave  their  resting-places. 
Now  the  creek  leads  into  a  larger  pond,  its  surface 
marked  with  patches  of  marsh  grass  and  wild  rice. 
A  roar  of  wings,  and  a  perfect  multitude  of  ducks 
take  flight,  joined,  as  they  leave  the  water,  by 
smaller  flocks.  This  is  Pearson's  Pond.  At  its 
farther  edge  a  small  strip  of  sedge  is  surrounded 
by  quite  an  area  of  open  water,  which,  with  a 
northwest  wind,  makes  a  lee.  Here  the  punter 
sets  his  decoys,  then  shoves  back  into  the  grass. 
There  is  no  need  of  a  blind.  A  few  quill  reeds 
cut  and  stuck  in  front  of  the  bow  make  a  complete 
cover.  Before  everything  is  ready  comes  the  first 
shot.  Four  black  duck,  high  up,  answer  the  call, 
and  dropping  into  range  circle  in  against  the  wind 
with  wings  set,  then  jump  high  in  the  air  as  the 
mistake  is  realized.  One  drops,  the  next  barrel 
misses.  The  morning  stillness  has  been  broken. 
At  the  report  thousands  of  ducks  rise  from  the 
ponds  and  marshes.  A  gun  sounds  off  to  the 
east,  and  others  toward  the  club,  but  there  is  suffi- 
cient to  attend  to  on  Pearson's  Pond.  A  flock  of 
six,  in  which  a  green  head  marks  a  mallard,  are 
hovering  over  the  stool.  The  mallard  and  a  black 


RED-HEADS   AND    CANVAS-BACK 


Duck-shooting  5 1 

duck  part  company  with  the  rest,  and  before  the 
gun  is  loaded  is  a  chance  at  a  single  duck.  A 
dozen  more  are  almost  in  range.  Two  cut  in,  and 
one  stays.  The  flight  for  a  few  minutes  is  steady ; 
then  the  birds  seem  to  have  risen  higher,  and  do 
not  decoy  as  well.  Guns  on  all  sides  in  the  marsh 
keep  them  moving.  A  flock  of  something  differ- 
ent now  flashes  by,  and  a  dozen  hooded  mergansers 
dart  over  the  decoys.  A  pair  of  green-winged  teal 
light ;  and  as  they  stop,  a  double  folds  them  up. 
Every  few  minutes  black  duck,  in  twos  and  threes, 
sometimes  a  small  flock,  call  forth  shots.  This 
shooting  lasts  until  noon,  and  then  comes  a  brief 
respite.  There  is  an  opportunity  to  look  about. 
Some  hundred  yards  off  are  the  dead  birds,  drifted 
against  the  edge  of  the  marsh.  There  are  forty 
odd,  and  a  number  of  cripples  have  crawled  off; 
not  once  has  the  boat  been  pushed  out.  Lunch 
seems  in  order,  but  it  is  cut  short  by  another  little 
flight.  Three  or  four  more  teal  are  bagged, 
shadow  over  the  decoys,  and  an  eagle  swoc^o,  ^ ' 
ceived  by  the  wooden  ducks.  A  scream  tells  his 
fright,  and  he  lifts  himself  up  out  of  reach.  With 
afternoon  comes  more  shooting,  black  duck  mostly, 
and  some  teal.  One  of  the  last  chances  is  a  single 
black  duck  high  up,  and  going  with  the  wind  ;  but 
it  smashes  through  the  quills  at  the  shot.  Sunset 
is  near  at  hand,  and  Pearson's  Pond  is  about  an 
hour  from  home.  The  punter  takes  up.  Between 


52  The  Water-fowl  Family 

stool  and  ducks,  quarters  in  the  punt  are  crowded. 
The  gunner  realizes,  in  addition  to  the  delights  of 
that  day,  a  lame  shoulder  and  an  appetite.  Sixty- 
seven  birds,  among  them  twenty-six  brace  of  black 
duck,  are  hung  in  the  duck-house. 

In  the  past  season  red-head  have  figured  largely 
in  the  bags  made  at  Long  Point,  but  the  marsh 
ducks  generally  predominate,  and  black  ducks 
head  the  list.  In  one  of  the  larger  ponds  canvas- 
back  are  occasional  visitors. 

CANVAS-BACK   SHOOTING  IN   ONTARIO 

In  the  past  few  years,  in  certain  parts  of  the 
Great  Lake  region,  canvas-back  have  appeared  in 
considerable  numbers,  and  it  is  an  interesting  fact 
that  a  marked  increase  of  these  ducks  was  noted 
in  some  localities  at  a  time  coincident  with  their 
disappearance  from  the  Chesapeake.  In  some  of 
the  shallow  bays  of  Lake  Erie  wild  celery  is 
-found,  and  it  is  here  the  birds  are  most  abundant. 
The  first  flocks  of  canvas-back  appear  early  in 
October,  and  keep  pretty  much  to  the  open  water, 
spending  most  of  their  time  in  resting  and  feed- 
ing, occasionally  moving  in  large  bodies.  By  the 
end  of  the  month  all  the  flocks  have  congregated, 
and  the  canvas-back  season  is  at  its  height.  Bat- 
tery shooting  is  not  legal  here,  and  the  gunning 
is  done  almost  entirely  from  skags.  A  skag  is  a 
low  duck-boat,  strongly  built,  decked  over  in  such 


Duck-shooting  53 

a  way  that  it  is  well  fitted  for  the  rough  water 
and  sudden  squalls  that  are  common  in  these  re- 
gions. Painted  water  color,  the  craft  is  incon- 
spicuous, and  a  slight  ripple  makes  it  still  more 
so.  It  is  used  in  two  ways,  either  anchored  within 
range  of  the  decoys  or  some  two  hundred  yards 
off,  to  be  drifted  on  to  the  stool  when  opportunity 
offers.  Early  in  the  season  the  ducks  do  not  ob- 
ject to  the  presence  of  the  skag  in  the  decoys, 
and  this  is  generally  the  first  method  of  shooting. 
But  canvas-back  quickly  become  wild  and  soon 
shy  the  boat,  even  when  well  surrounded  with 
stool.  Drifting  on  to  the  birds,  when  done  as  it 
always  is  by  one  man,  requires  no  little  skill. 
The  skag  is  anchored  some  distance  to  the  wind- 
ward of  the  decoys,  and  a  buoy  fastened  to  the 
anchor  line.  The  gunner,  provided  with  a  short 
paddle,  lies  full-length  in  the  boat.  The  stools 
are  so  set  that  there  is  a  small  area  of  open  water 
in  their  midst,  and  a  hundred  or  more  are  thrown 
out.  Both  canvas-back  and  red-head  have  the 
habit  of  swimming  together  after  stooling,  and  it 
is  the  theory  of  gunners,  that  if  open  water  is  left 
in  the  centre  of  the  mass  of  decoys  the  ducks  will 
swim  into  this  instead  of  away  from  the  stool. 
The  birds  of  necessity  are  allowed  to  light ;  then 
the  gunner  without  raising  himself  detaches  the 
buoy,  tips  the  skag  gently  by  leaning  to  one  side, 
and  thus  makes  a  more  effectual  cover.  The 


54  The  Wafer-fowl  Family 

craft  is  now  gently  paddled  by  one  hand  within 
range.  A  little  breeze  facilitates  greatly  the  shoot- 
ing, as  it  conceals  more  efficiently  the  boat,  and 
forces  the  birds  to  rise  toward  the  gun.  The 
gunner  is  tended  by  a  large  boat,  which  lies  off 
to  the  lee,  ready  to  render  quick  assistance  in 
case  of  emergency,  and  to  help  in  picking  up 
dead  birds. 

This  shooting  is  local,  and  used  principally  by 
market  gunners ;  but  in  a  few  instances  where 
sportsmen  have  attempted  it,  they  have  been  sur- 
prisingly successful.  In  the  bay  on  Lake  Erie, 
where  skagging  first  came  under  the  writer's 
observation,  there  were  two  market  gunners  who 
were  specially  skilful,  and  the  account  given  below 
is  almost  word  for  word  the  one  given  him  by  a 
gunner  who  has  the  reputation  of  being  the  best 
shot  on  the  north  shore.  The  total  day's  bag  of 
one  hundred  and  twenty-four  canvas-back  duck 
was  made  beyond  the  slightest  doubt.  "  It  was 
late  last  October.  I  had  been  out  in  a  skag  for  a 
week  or  more,  with  poor  luck.  Birds  were  plenty, 
but  there  had  been  no  wind,  and  the  flocks  were 
not  broken  up.  Finally,  a  two  days'  easterly  blow 
set  in,  and  we  tried  them  from  the  west  end  of 
the  bay,  about  a  mile  offshore.  Birds  had  been 
leading  to  the  west  the  day  before.  It  was  about 
sunrise  when  all  the  stool  were  set.  I  took  the 
skag  and  anchored  off  to  the  windward  of  the 


Duck-shooting  55 

lecoys  a  couple  of  hundred  yards.  My  brother 
tended  the  sloop.  There  was  some  little  sea,  and 
a  breeze  from  the  west.  We  put  up  a  big  bed  of 
canvas-back  near  the  spot,  but  it  was  an  hour  or 
so  before  any  came  in.  Then  a  steady  flight  kept 
up  all  day,  in  small  flocks  of  from  six  to  ten.  A 
flock  of  six  was  the  first  to  come  into  the  stool. 
They  dropped  in,  and  didn't  seem  to  want  to  rise. 
I  worked  up  within  forty  feet  of  the  bunch,  killed 
three  on  the  water  and  the  rest  in  straight  shots, 
with  a  pump  gun.  I  picked  them  up  and  got  a 
shot  at  two  before  I  went  to  my  anchor,  dropping 
one.  The  birds  came  in  like  this  all  the  morning, 
and  I  didn't  go  down  on  the  decoys  once  and  get 
less  than  three.  Most  of  them  gave  me  a  shot 
on  the  water.  The  best  scoop  I  made  was  on  a 
flock  of  fifteen :  only  one  got  off ;  eight  on  the 
water,  three  as  they  rose,  three  more  circled 
and  came  back  after  I  reloaded.  It  was  blowing 
harder  all  the  time,  and  decoys  began  to  drift. 
About  four  o'clock  the  sloop  came,  and  we 
*  took  up.' 

"  There  were  fifty  birds  on  board  and  seventy 
odd  in  the  skag,  all  canvas-back.  I  didn't  shoot 
broadbill,  and  there  were  no  red-head  flying. 
That  was  the  best  day  last  fall,  and  the  best 
score  I  ever  made." 


CHAPTER    II 

DUCK-SHOOTING   (CONTINUED) 
RIVER  SHOOTING 

IN  many  parts  of  the  United  States  it  is  pos- 
sible to  get  good  duck-shooting  on  the  rivers. 
This  is  the  case  in  various  parts  of  the  West,  and 
especially  the  South,  where  sluggish  streams  wind 
through  brush  and  brake.  For  this  manner  of 
ducking,  a  low  flat-bottomed  boat  is  essential,  and 
should  be  made  as  inconspicuous  as  possible  by 
means  of  sedge  and  grass  piled  in  the  bow.  If 
managed  by  a  single  gunner,  he  must  be  an  ex- 
pert sculler.  Usually  one  man  paddles  another, 
keeping  the  craft  close  to  the  shore,  noiselessly 
rounding  a  bend  within  easy  range  of  the  adjacent 
bank.  With  loud  quacking,  the  startled  birds 
spring  into  the  air  from  a  wooded  pool,  and  a 
flock  of  mallard  offers  an  easy  mark.  An  old 
green-head  falls  at  the  first  shot,  and  his  compan- 
ions, soaring  high,  wend  their  way  down-stream. 
Every  little  while,  from  the  sloughs  alongshore, 
where  grass  and  thick  weeds  afford  cover  and  a 
feeding-place,  ducks  jump  within  range.  They 
are  mostly  mallard,  though  wood-duck  and  teal  are 

56 


Duck-shooting  57 

not  wanting.  Birds,  under  these  circumstances, 
are  frequently  surprised  by  rounding  quick  turns 
in  the  river;  the  shooting  generally  is  easy.  Some- 
times the  size  of  the  stream  is  such  that  the  gun- 
ner can  walk  through  the  cover  lining  the  sides 
and  shoot  as  the  ducks  rise.  In  the  spring  of 
the  year  vast  tracts  of  woodland  along  the  larger 
rivers  of  the  West  are  flooded,  and  immense  num- 
bers of  mallard,  and  to  a  less  extent  the  other 
varieties  of  ducks,  frequent  the  inundated  woods. 
Under  these  circumstances  a  few  decoys  help  out 
the  shooting. 

In  northern  Mexico,  last  year,  I  enjoyed  a 
novel  day's  duck-shooting.  We  started  on  horse- 
back, in  the  early  morning,  from  Laguna,  with  a 
Mexican  boy  to  care  for  the  horses.  Here  the 
country  is  one  vast  arid  plain,  a  continuation  of 
the  desert  plateau  of  Arizona  and  New  Mexico. 
For  nine  months  of  the  year  rain  is  unknown, 
and  in  the  spring  the  only  water  is  found  in  the 
shallow  mesa  lakes,  or,  rarely,  in  arroyos,  which 
are  river  beds  cut  deep  in  the  soil  by  the  heavy 
rains  of  the  summer,  and  at  this  time  well  filled 
with  water.  At  the  cessation  of  the  rainy  season 
these  rivers  quickly  run  dry,  leaving  a  deep 
channel.  In  the  few  places  where  water  remains 
in  these  arroyos,  it  is  resorted  to  by  hundreds  of 
ducks.  The  river  near  Laguna,  in  the  spring  of 
the  year,  is  a  mere  ditch,  in  places  almost  dry, 


58  The  Water-fowl  Family 

yet  ducks  were  in  plenty.  Occasionally  a  stagnant 
pool  broadened  out  the  banks;  these  were  per- 
haps twenty  feet  high,  so  steep  and  narrow  it  was 
possible  to  walk  a  few  feet  from  the  edge  without 
even  seeing  the  water  below.  We  rode  along  the 
plain,  yellow  with  dry,  wavy  grass,  dotted  as  far 
as  the  eye  could  reach  with  cattle,  for  the  cattle, 
like  all  other  living  things,  are  concentrated  near 
water.  It  was  a  still,  bright  day,  characteristic  of 
a  desert  country.  For  a  short  distance  we  trav- 
elled away  from  the  stream,  expecting  to  follow  it 
a  little  farther  from  the  ranch.  Almost  before  we 
had  realized  it  was  near,  a  flock  of  gadwall  rose 
up,  as  it  were,  out  of  the  earth.  Quickly  handing 
over  the  horses  to  the  Mexican,  we  crept  along 
the  bank;  a  quack  just  ahead  and  beneath  us,  and 
in  another  minute  we  found  him,  an  old  green- 
head,  in  a  puddle  all  by  himself,  right  under  our 
feet.  He  sprang  into  the  air,  and  startled  as  he 
did  so  a  flock  of  gadwall.  They  offered  a  perfect 
shot ;  two  dropped,  and  instantly  ducks  rose  out 
of  the  ground  in  scores ;  teal,  gadwall,  shovellers, 
a  few  sprigs,  and  mallard.  For  a  short  time  the 
shooting  was  fast,  birds  passing  overhead  back 
and  forth,  following  the  course  of  the  arroyo, 
suddenly  dropping  down  out  of  sight  far  ahead. 
Between  us  we  picked  up  perhaps  a  dozen,  gad- 
wall  and  teal  mostly,  occasionally  a  sprigtail  and 
a  widgeon ;  then  we  mounted  and  rode  on,  strik- 


Duck-sbooting  59 

ing  the  arroyo  half  a  mile  beyond.  In  a  short 
time  our  capacity  for  ducks  was  exhausted ;  we 
had  almost  more  than  we  could  carry  on  horse- 
back, and  we  turned  toward  home.  It  was  very 
interesting  to  follow  along  this  weird  place,  and 
see  how  close  we  could  get  to  unsuspecting  birds. 
In  one  instance  I  watched  a  flock  of  twenty  or 
thirty  gadwall  and  teal  nearly  half  an  hour,  hardly 
more  than  thirty  feet  from  the  spot  where  I  lay  in 
the  grass,  peering  over  the  bank.  They  preened 
themselves,  unsuspecting,  and  dabbled  in  the  shal- 
low water,  occasionally  uttering  contented  notes, 
but,  at  the  slightest  motion,  were  alert  and  ready 
to  spring.  In  another  instance  I  noticed  a  pair  of 
ruddy  ducks  in  a  small  pool  scarcely  a  foot  in 
depth.  It  seemed  to  be  a  good  chance  to  force 
a  diver  to  his  wings,  and  I  ran  down  the  steep 
bank  almost  on  to  them.  They  just  settled  out 
of  sight  in  the  water,  and  never  appeared.  How 
they  ever  dived  out  of  that  puddle  is  beyond  my 
understanding,  and  my  esteem  for  a  ruddy  duck's 
sleight  of  diving  was  greater  than  ever.  It  was 
early  afternoon  when  we  wended  our  way  back  to 
the  ranch,  where  a  pitcher  of  coffee  and  a  plate 
of  tortillas  went  but  a  little  way  toward  appeasing 
a  Mexican  appetite. 


60  The  Water-fowl  Family 

ICE-HOLE  SHOOTING 

In  various  parts  of  our  country,  with  the  first 
approach  of  winter,  many  wild  fowl  are  loath  to 
leave,  and  remain  until  the  last  open  water  freezes. 
Throughout  the  West  the  larger  lakes  and  rivers 
afford  shooting  from  ice-holes,  —  along  the  coasts, 
the  bays,  and  harbors.  There  is  a  degree  of  dis- 
comfort, not  to  say  actual  danger,  about  this 
shooting  that  does  not  commend  itself  to  the 
sportsmen  as  highly  as  other  methods.  Then 
too,  birds,  if  long  limited  to  these  small  areas  of 
open  water,  grow  thin  and  poor;  but  a  duck  is  a 
duck,  and  probably  this  fact  has  not  deterred 
many  gunners  from  taking  advantage  of  any 
helplessness.  While  all  varieties  of  ducks  fre- 
quent open  water  under  these  circumstances,  the 
species  most  commonly  associated  with  freezing 
weather  are  the  golden-eye;  they  thrive  and 
keep  in  good  condition  to  the  last.  On  an  occa- 
sion I  saw  a  single  golden-eye  in  a  small  ice- 
hole,  under  one  of  the  bridges  near  New  Haven ; 
the  bird  flew  as  we  drove  over,  but  at  once 
returned,  a  fact  that  goes  to  show  the  tenacity  of 
birds  for  these  places  when  forced  by  circum- 
stances. 

My  own  experience  in  ice  shooting  has  been 
limited.  In  the  severe  winter  of  four  years  ago  the 
harbors  all  along  Long  Island  Sound  were  frozen 


Duck-shooting  61 

over  and  where  the  current  was  strong,  in  many 
instances,  areas  of  open  water  existed.  One  of 
these  holes,  several  acres  in  size,  was  frequented 
by  a  large  number  of  broadbill,  and  here  on  several 
occasions  I  had  excellent  shooting.  It  is  always 
important,  in  this  method  of  gunning,  not  to  fire 
into  the  birds  when  all  are  bedded  together  on 
the  water.  The  large  flocks  should  be  allowed  to 
leave,  when  they  quickly  return  in  small  bunches, 
and  if  care  is  used  in  resting  the  birds,  the  shoot- 
ing will  continue  good.  When  offshore,  the 
holes  must  be  approached  with  care ;  and  for  this 
purpose  white  boats  are  used.  These  should  be 
decked  over  and  light.  Often  a  sled  is  useful  in 
carrying  them  over  the  ice.  The  blind  is  readily 
made  of  ice  and  snow,  and  a  few  decoys  suffice. 
There  is  always  a  chance  of  accident  from  break- 
ing through  treacherous  ice,  and  the  surroundings 
are  not  the  most  desirable  for  calamities  of  this 
sort. 

SEA-DUCK  SHOOTING 

Sea-duck  shooting  is  hardly  to  be  compared 
for  sport  with  other  kinds  of  duck-hunting,  and 
yet  on  the  New  England  coast  the  scoters  and 
old  squaws  are  regularly  killed,  and  to  the  natives 
along  the  shore  have  a  certain  amount  of  value. 
They  are  not  edible  in  the  market  sense,  but 
many  a  Connecticut  longshoreman  is  glad  of 
their  meat  and  the  feathers  are  regularly  saved. 


62  The  Water-fowl  Family 

Frequenting,  as  they  do,  the  deep  water  and  rocky 
shores,  the  shooting  differs  to  a  certain  extent 
from  other  ducking  methods.  Points  and  rocky 
islands  near  their  feeding-grounds  are  often  used 
to  decoy  them  from.  As  a  rule  they  readily  stool, 
but  when  much  shot  can  become  as  wary  as  many 
other  ducks.  Any  dark  decoys  suffice  for  scoters ;' 
they  come  to  the  wooden  ducks  in  rather  an  awk- 
ward way,  often  so  low  down  as  to  plunge  into 
the  water  before  the  gunner  fires.  On  seeing  the 
mistake  the  birds  swim  off,  or  sometimes  dive, 
taking  wing  when  at  a  safe  distance.  Old 
squaws  are  faster,  and  afford  better  shooting. 
The  general  disposition  of  all  these  ducks,  to  fly 
low,  is  made  the  most  of  in  line  shooting.  This 
is  employed  regularly  on  Long  Island  Sound. 
Anywhere  from  ten  to  twenty  gunners  anchor 
their  boats  in  a  line  at  intervals  of  a  hundred 
yards  or  more  across  some  harbor  or  off  a  far 
point.  The  birds  do  not  change  their  course,  but 
keep  straight  over  the  boats,  coming  with  all 
available  speed,  often  bunching  up  as  the  gun 
is  raised.  Under  favorable  circumstances  the 
shooting  is  thick  and  fast,  and  reminds  one  of  a 
bombardment,  the  heavy  guns  resounding  and 
reverberating  along  the  shores  for  miles.  The 
ducks  usually  shot  in  this  way  are  the  several 
varieties  of  scoters,  —  coots  as  they  are  called  lo- 
cally, —  old  squaws,  and  in  some  places  eiders  (the 


ALONG   THE    MARSH 


Duck-shooting  63 

eider  is  not  uncommon  off  Massachusetts),  rarely 
broadbill  and  the  wilder  ducks.  Very  often 
amusing  instances  happen  in  line  shooting;  a 
bird,  bewildered  by  successive  shots,  sometimes 
passes  over  the  whole  line  of  boats,  and  is  missed 
in  turn  by  one  after  the  other.  In  one  instance 
I  saw  a  white-winged  scoter  reach  the  end  man, 
after  having  called  forth  a  shot  from  every  boat; 
but  at  the  last  crack  the  bird  doubled  up  and  the 
gunner  let  out  a  yell  of  triumph  which  was  short- 
lived, for  the  falling  bird  struck  him  square  in  the 
stomach  and  came  near  putting  him  out  for  good 
and  all.  It  was  a  case  of  an  unexpected  double. 
This  shooting  is  much  facilitated  by  attaching 
the  anchor  to  a  buoy,  and  tying  the  boat  to  this, 
thus  avoiding  lifting  the  anchor  whenever  a  bird 
is  to  be  picked  up.  On  the  Connecticut  shore  of 
the  Sound,  the  Thimble  Islands  used  to  be,  and  are 
at  present,  a  favorite  spot  for  line  shooting,  and 
many  a  ducking  party  has  the  old  Money  Island 
hotel  entertained. 

THE  DECREASE  OF  WILD  FOWL 

Between  1870  and  1875  fifteen  thousand  ducks 
were  not  uncommonly  killed  on  Chesapeake  Bay 
in  a  single  day.  Here  in  February  and  March  it 
was  possible  to  see  red-heads  and  canvas-backs  in 
rafts  miles  long,  containing  countless  thousands 
of  birds.  In  the  old  days,  Baltimore  was  the 


64  The  Water-fowl  Family 

headquarters  for  most  of  the  sportsmen,  and  the 
famous  locations  for  shooting  were  Carroll's  Island, 
Spesutia  Island,  Maxwell's  Point,  and  Benjies. 
Formerly  the  eastern  shores  of  Chesapeake  Bay, 
from  the  Sassafras  River,  through  Pocomoke 
Sound,  and  down  the  Bay,  and  on  the  western 
side  from  Baltimore  to  the  James  River,  were 
favorite  resorts.  What  stories  of  ducks  and 
duck-shooting  could  these  places  tell !  Wild  fowl 
up  to  1860  had  not  been  much  hunted  in  this 
country,  and  during  the  Civil  War  were  unmo- 
lested. From  1865  began  their  destruction,  which 
has  been  steadily  increasing  since,  with  a  result 
inevitable.  In  twenty-five  years  the  greatest  nat- 
ural home  in  the  world  for  wild  ducks  has  been 
nearly  devastated  of  its  tenants.  The  past  few 
years  have  shown  some  betterment  in  the  shoot- 
ing there,  and,  with  care,  it  may  still  improve,  but 
the  vast  hordes  of  the  past  will  not  return.  Inland 
bodies  of  water,  extending  through  the  Middle 
West  to  the  mountains,  tell  the  same  story.  What 
sights  were  once  seen  on  the  sloughs  of  Indiana, 
Illinois,  and  Minnesota!  Now,  in  many  places, 
the  numbers  left,  an  insignificant  remnant,  bear 
evidence  of  the  past.  After  the  large  game  had 
been  destroyed  and  driven  off,  the  small  game 
was  taken  up,  and  the  past  twenty  years  have 
decimated  the  wild  fowl  almost  beyond  concep- 
tion. Practically  unprotected,  shot  from  their  first 


CO! 


Duck-shooting  65 


coming  in  the  fall  to  the  end  of  their  stay  in  the 
spring,  the  result  has  been  inevitable.  Many  of 
the  most  famous  resorts  are  devastated,  and  the 
existing  haunts  exposed  to  such  incessant  perse- 
cution that  local  extinction  is  threatened  unless 
prompt  measures  of  relief  are  afforded. 

Excessive  shooting  can  be  assigned  as  the 
prime  cause  of  destruction,  and  under  this  head 
comes,  first  of  all,  spring  shooting.  Until  recently, 
throughout  all  of  our  Western  states  and  adjacent 
Canada,  wild  fowl  have  been  shot  until  May.  At 
this  time  they  are  preparing  to  breed,  some  actu- 
ally nesting,  and  it  can  be  readily  seen  that  de- 
struction under  such  circumstances  bears  directly 
on  future  supply.  Birds  at  this  time  are  usually 
thin  and  hardly  fit  for  the  table,  yet  the  market 
gunner  gets  his  price,  and  the  ruthless  sportsman 
runs  up  his  score.  Until  within  the  past  few 
years  the  suggestion  of  abolishing  spring  shooting 
has  been  received  with  considerable  opposition ; 
it  was  argued  that  over  a  large  tract  of  country 
the  only  shooting  was  at  this  time.  The  claim 
was  also  made,  and  more  reasonably,  that  unless 
spring  shooting  was  forbidden  in  all  Western 
states,  and  along  the  entire  migratory  course, 
legislation  in  a  single  state  would  have  but  little 
or  no  result.  The  effect  of  stopping  spring  shoot- 
ing, even  in  isolated  states,  has  been  attended 
with  such  satisfactory  improvement  in  the  fall 


66  The  Water-fowl  Family 

shooting,  that  sportsmen  are  now  universally  con- 
vinced of  the  absolute  necessity  of  protecting  our 
water-fowl  at  this  season.  In  the  United  States, 
the  Western  states  along  the  northern  border 
are  all  breeding-grounds  for  water-fowl,  and  it 
is  here  protection  is  most  essential.  In  North 
Dakota,  Minnesota,  and  Wisconsin  legislation 
prohibiting  spring  shooting  has  been  attended 
with  remarkable  results  in  the  comparatively  short 
period  of  its  existence,  and,  in  many  instances, 
market  gunners  admit  the  benefit.  In  the  upper 
peninsula  of  Michigan  the  open  season  closes 
January  15  ;  in  Minnesota,  January  i  ;  in  Wiscon- 
sin and  North  Dakota,  January  i  ;  in  Idaho, 
March  i;  in  Ontario,  December  15;  Newfound- 
land, January  1 2 ;  California,  North  Carolina, 
British  Columbia,  and  Nova  Scotia  have  a  close 
season  in  March.  In  most  of  the  other  states 
the  close  season  begins  later.  In  Ontario,  a  few 
years  since,  the  marshes  were  almost  devoid  of 
breeding  ducks.  At  the  present  time  thousands 
of  black  duck,  mallard,  and  teal  are  seen  nesting. 
This  same  statement  can  be  easily  true  elsewhere. 
Recently  duck-shooting  in  Connecticut  has  been 
prohibited  after  April  i.  The  law  has  been  in 
force  for  one  year.  Last  spring,  in  many  of  the 
harbors  of  Long  Island  Sound,  there  were  more 
ducks  than  had  been  seen  in  years,  a  fact  specially 
true  of  the  broadbill.  There  is  a  strong  objection 


Duck-shooting  67 

in  many  of  the  Southern  states  against  abolishing 
spring  shooting.  Its  advocates  claim  that  at  the 
time  of  leaving  the  bays  and  rivers  of  the  South, 
wild  fowl  are  still  in  flocks  and  unmated;  that 
they  are  far  from  the  breeding-grounds.  As  a 
matter  of  fact,  this  protection  is  more  needed  in 
the  South  than  in  the  North.  In  the  early  spring 
the  vast  hordes  of  migratory  wild  fowl  are  south, 
not  north.  In  many  instances  they  are  mated, 
though  still  in  flocks.  If  there  is  any  reason  for 
protecting  wild  fowl  in  the  North  in  April,  the 
same  reason  holds  good  for  their  protection  in  the 
South  during  March.  Another  fact,  that  perhaps 
many  of  our  sportsmen  do  not  appreciate,  is  that 
numbers  of  our  water-fowl  actually  breed  in  the 
South.  The  southern  variety  of  black  duck,  the 
blue-winged  teal,  and  the  mallard,  all  nest  farther 
south  than  has  been  supposed.  It  is  the  duty  of 
every  man  interested  in  sporting  to  use  his  influ- 
ence against  spring  shooting.  The  effect  on  our 
wild  fowl,  of  a  universal  protection  at  this  time 
throughout  the  United  States,  would  be  surprising 
even  in  the  following  fall ;  if  this  could  once  be 
realized,  there  would  be  few  sportsmen  and  market 
gunners  who  would  not  sanction  it,  even  from 
selfish  motives. 

Another  cause  of  the  destruction  of  our  water- 
fowl, that  can  be  to  a  certain  extent  corrected,  is 
too  large  bags  by  sportsmen.  It  is  only  on  occa- 


68  The  Water-fowl  Family 

sions,  in  many  places,  that  circumstances  favor 
the  gunner,  and  many  a  conscientious  man  feels  he 
is  justified  in  taking  every  advantage.  But  if  our 
wild  ducks  are  to  be  preserved,  even  in  present 
numbers,  self-sacrifice  is  necessary.  In  North 
Dakota  a  law  restricting  each  man's  portion  to 
twenty-five  birds  has  gone  a  long  way  to  prevent 
the  wanton  destruction  of  game.  Rules  restrict- 
ing the  quantity  of  game  killed  have  long  been 
in  use  by  many  clubs  with  most  excellent  results, 
and  state  legislation  to  this  same  effect,  though 
perhaps  difficult  to  enforce,  would  undoubtedly  be 
of  benefit. 

Market  gunning  has  been  responsible  in  many 
instances-  for  utter  destruction  of  game,  and  the 
high  prices  paid  in  the  East  for  varieties  of  ducks 
most  excellent  for  the  table  have  made  it  possible 
for  the  pot-hunter  to  thrive.  The  result  has  been 
a  foregone  conclusion,  and  the  most  famous  resorts 
along  the  Atlantic  Coast  have  been  stripped  of 
their  wild  fowl.  With  market  gunning  go  hand 
in  hand  all  the  illegal  methods  of  killing,  —  shoot- 
ing at  night,  the  use  of  large-bore  guns,  in  short, 
any  possible  means  to  destroy  game.  With  the 
present  facilities  for  cold  storage,  the  market  ca- 
pacity is  unlimited ;  this  evil,  however,  could  be 
effectually  obviated,  and  by  preventing  the  sale 
and  storing  of  wild  fowl,  probably  more  would  be 
done  toward  actual  protection  than  by  any  other 


Duck-shooting  69 

means.  In  many  of  our  states  the  exportation  of 
game  has  been  prohibited  for  several  years,  and 
for  this  law  North  Dakota  is  again  conspicuous. 
The  effect  has  been  that  the  largest  area  in  the 
United  States  for  small  game  has  been  saved  from 
market  gunning.  Exportation  laws  are  readily 
enforced  along  all  railroad  lines,  and  are  a  prac- 
tical means  of  protection. 

Excessive  shooting  has  been  checked  in  sections 
of  the  South  by  establishing  close  days,  —  three 
days  of  the  week  have  been  set  apart  as  days  of 
rest  for  wild  fowl,  with  the  result  that  better  shoot- 
ing is  had  in  the  four  open  days  than  was  previ- 
ously had  in  six.  The  control  of  shooting  lands 
by  clubs  has  also  had  a  protective  influence  in 
many  localities.  Strict  club  rules,  judiciously  en- 
forced, have  gone  far  toward  bettering  existing 
conditions;  in  this  way  night  gunning  has  been 
almost  done  away  with  in  sections  of  the  South. 
Too  destructive  methods  of  shooting  should  be 
legislated  against,  especially  battery  shooting,  and 
any  means  by  which  large  flocks  of  wild  fowl  can 
be  approached  while  resting.  The  repeating  shot- 
gun comes  under  this  head.  The  protection  of 
parks,  extended  in  some  instances  to  large  game, 
is  just  as  efficient  in  saving  the  destruction  of 
birds.  The  great  benefit  of  the  Yellowstone  Park 
stands  out  as  a  conspicuous  example  of  this ;  all 
of  the  ponds  and  sloughs  here  are  occupied  by 


70  The  Water-fowl  Family 

thousands  of  breeding  wild  fowl,  as  tame  in  many 
instances  as  domestic  ducks  and  geese.  These 
birds  are  as  quick  to  appreciate  protection  as  large 
animals.  In  many  of  the  zoological  gardens 
abroad  wild  fowl  are  regular  migrants,  and  this 
disposition  has  been  noticed  to  a  small  extent  in 
the  New  York  zoological  gardens,  where  wild 
ducks  have  often  remained  for  some  time  in  the 
companionship  of  captive  relatives.  No  man  can 
see  this  trait  of  our  wild  fowl  —  to  make  the  most 
of  all  he  offers  them  in  the  way  of  preservation  — 
without  being  impressed. 

To  sum  up,  the  imperative  need  for  wild-fowl 
protection  at  the  present  time  is  a  universal  law 
throughout  the  United  States  against  spring  shoot- 
ing. Game  should  be  exposed  for  sale  in  markets 
through  short  seasons,  if  at  all ;  storing  of  game 
should  be  absolutely  prohibited;  state  exporta- 
tion should  be  prevented;  and  there  should  be  an 
individual  limit  to  the  number  killed. 

THE  RIVER-DUCKS 

(Anatidoe) 

When  the  sportsman  thinks  of  "ducking," 
some  of  the  birds  of  this  group  are  sure  to  pass 
before  his  mind,  for  to  it  belong  the  mallard, 
black  duck,  baldpate,  teal,  etc.  It  is  the  largest 
family  of  the  Anatidcz,  containing  about  fifty 
species,  which  are  scattered  over  most  of  the 


Duck-shooting  71 

world,  though  more  abundant  in  the  northern 
hemisphere.  They  differ  from  the  mergansers 
in  having  broad  and  flat  bills  with  a  series  of 
transverse  grooves,  instead  of  "teeth,"  on  the  cut- 
ting surfaces :  these  grooves  are  of  service  in 
straining  out  the  water  from  the  grasses  and 
other  vegetable  food  which  they  procure  when 
swimming.  The  absence  of  a  membranous  lobe 
on  the  hind  toe  separates  them  from  the  sea- 
ducks  and  the  mergansers,  and  their  feet  and 
palmations  are  smaller  than  those  of  the  former. 
Their  necks  are  rather  short,  and,  as  a  rule,  the 
heads  of  the  adult  males  without  a  crest.  In  many 
of  the  species  the  males  have  a  very  elegant 
plumage,  as  the  wood-duck,  differing  from  the 
plainer  females,  and  most  have  a  bright  metallic 
patch  of  feathers  on  the  wing.  Frequently  the 
male  has  a  summer  moult,  in  which  he  assumes 
a  dull  plumage,  much  resembling  that  of  the 
female.  This  lasts  while  the  wing  feathers  are 
growing,  and  is  probably  a  great  protection  to 
him  during  the  days  or  weeks  that  he  cannot  fly ; 
but  early  in  the  autumn  he  acquires  again  his 
striking  dress. 

The  flight  of  all  is  swift  and  strong,  and  has 
been  thought  in  some  species  to  reach  a  hundred 
and  fifty  miles  an  hour.  They  spring  from  the 
water  at  a  bound,  and  are  instantly  under  way. 
Frequenting  by  preference  fresh  water,  the  river- 


72  The  Water-fowl  Family 

ducks  are  not  uncommon  on  the  bays  of  the 
coast  in  the  migrations  and  in  winter,  usually  in 
small  flocks,  and  associating  to  some  extent  with 
the  sea-ducks.  They  feed  in  shallow  water,  not 
diving,  but  thrusting  their  head  and  neck  to  the 
bottom,  and  tipping  up  the  body,  while  they  tear 
off  the  stems  of  the  water  plants  which  are  their 
chief  subsistence.  Their  flesh  is  sweet  and  pala- 
table almost  without  exception,  although  if  they 
are  forced  to  a  diet  consisting  largely  of  shellfish 
and  Crustacea,  it  may  become  rank.  The  females 
perform  all  the  duties  of  incubation  and  care  for 
the  young  when  they  are  hatched,  but  in  many 
species  the  male  takes  much  interest  in  his  family. 
Some  of  the  most  interesting  and  beautiful  mem- 
bers of  the  water-fowl  belong  in  this  group,  such 
as  the  mandarin  duck  of  Asia,  the  shoveller,  with 
a  long  and  spoon-shaped  bill  with  the  lateral 
strainers  remarkably  developed,  and  the  pintail, 
with  the  middle  tail  feathers  very  long.  Most 
breed  on  the  ground  near  the  water,  but  some,  as 
the  wood-duck,  nest  in  hollow  trees,  and  the  true 
sheldrakes  in  holes  in  banks.  This  latter  fact  is 
taken  advantage  of  by  the  inhabitants  of  parts  of 
Denmark,  who  dig  artificial  burrows  for  the  shel- 
drakes, sometimes  with  several  laying  compart- 
ments radiating  from  a  single  entrance.  Each 
breeding-chamber  is  covered  with  a  tightly  fitting 
piece  of  sod,  and  through  this  opening  the  fresh 


Duck-sbooting  73 

eggs  are  collected  daily,  six  being  left  for  the  bird 
to  hatch,  and  once  the  downy  nest  itself  is  taken. 
The  muscovy  duck  (Cairina  moschata),  a  large 
and  handsome  species  which  inhabits  tropical 
America,  has  been  recorded  from  Louisiana  and 
Indiana,  but  as  it  is  frequently  kept  in  captivity, 
mating  with  the  domestic  ducks,  it  is  believed 
that  these  specimens  are  not  wild  birds.  The 
male  is  a  large  bird,  measuring  nearly  three  feet 
in  length,  and  the  female  two  feet.  On  the  sides 
of  the  forehead  of  the  male  are  rose-red  carun- 
cles ;  the  head,  neck,  and  lower  parts  are  brownish 
black,  the  upper  parts  metallic  blackish  green 
glossed  with  purple,  and  the  wing-coverts  white. 
The  female  has  a  much  duller  plumage,  entirely 
brownish  black,  except  for  a  white  feather  or  so 
on  the  wirig-coverts  and  a  greenish  metallic  lustre 
to  the  upper  parts. 

MALLARD 
(Anas  boschas) 

Adult  male — In  fall,  winter,  and  spring,  head  and  neck,  soft,  brilliant, 
metallic  green,  showing  purple  and  bronze  reflections  in  differ- 
ent lights  ;  a  ring  of  pure  white  around  lower  neck,  interrupted 
on  the  nape ;  upper  breast,  dark  chestnut-brown ;  wing-coverts, 
uniform  brownish  gray,  the  last  row  tipped  with  black  and  with 
a  subterminal  bar  of  white ;  speculum,  metallic  violet,  with  a 
subterminal  bar  of  black  and  a  terminal  one  of  white ;  primaries, 
plain  dark  gray ;  rump,  upper  tail-coverts,  and  crissum,  black, 
with  soft  greenish  reflections;  tail,  white,  feathers  grayish  in 
the  centre,  two  middle  feathers,  black,  slightly  recurved,  the  two 
longer  upper  coverts  greatly  recurved.  Bill,  olive-yellow  ;  nail, 


74  The  Heater-fowl  Family 

black  ;  iris,  hazel-brown  ;  legs  and  feet  vary  from  reddish  orange 
to  yellow. 

Measurements — Length,  24  inches;  wing,  12  inches;  culmen,  2.20 
inches;  tarsus,  1.70  inches. 

The  adult  male  in  summer  acquires  a  plumage  closely  re- 
sembling the  female,  but  of  a  darker  cast.  This  is  assumed 
in  June.  In  August  the  winter  dress  begins  to  be  resumed,  and 
by  October  the  plumage  is  usually  full. 

Adult  female  —  Above,  dusky  brown,  the  feathers  edged  with 
ochraceous,  beneath,  the  general  color  is  paler,  the  feathers 
having  dark  centres,  giving  a  mottled  or  streaked  appearance ; 
wing,  similar  to  male.  Bill,  greenish  yellow,  with  black  mark- 
ings ;  legs  and  feet,  yellowish  ;  iris,  hazel. 

Measurements  —  Length,  23  inches;  wing,  10.50  inches;  culmen, 
2.25  inches;  tarsus,  1.50  inches. 

Downy  young — Above,  deep  olive,  marked  by  two  pairs  of  light 
spots,  the  first  pair  on  the  back  just  behind  the  wing,  the  second 
at  base  of  tail  and  a  light  superciliary  stripe  on  the  sides  of  fore- 
head, head,  and  nape ;  dark  line  from  bill  through  eye ;  entire 
under  parts,  yellowish  buff. 

Eggs  —  Eight  to  thirteen  in  number;  olive-buff  or  greenish  buff; 
measure,  2.20  by  1.70  inches. 

Habitat  —  The  northern  portions  of  the  northern  hemisphere,  breed- 
ing in  Europe  as  far  south  as  the  Rhone  Delta.  Breeds  in 
North  America  from  Pennsylvania  rarely,  Ohio,  Indiana,  pos- 
sibly Kentucky,  Iowa,  Kansas,  Colorado,  Utah,  possibly  Arizona 
and  Lower  California,  and  California,  north  to  the  Pribilof 
Islands,  Kotzebue  Sound,  Alaska,  the  Mackenzie  Delta,  and  east 
to  Fort  Anderson,  Hudson  Bay,  Quebec,  and  Ontario,  and  in 
Greenland.  Not  found  in  Cumberland,  nor  apparently  in  Lab- 
rador, and  rare  in  migration  in  Newfoundland,  Nova  Scotia, 
New  Brunswick,  and  the  Atlantic  Coast  north  of  Maryland. 
Winters  in  southern  Greenland  and  from  Maine  rarely,  Mary- 
land regularly,  Kentucky,  Indiana,  Illinois,  Kansas,  rarely  Min- 
nesota and  South  Dakota,  Wyoming,  Idaho,  British  Columbia 
and  the  Aleutian  Islands,  south  to  the  West  Indies  and  Central 
America.  Occurs  also  in  Bermuda  and  Hawaii. 


Duck-shooting  75 

The  mallard,  of  all  our  ducks,  is  the  most  liable 
to  hybridism ;  a  few  of  the  more  interesting 
hybrids,  described  in  "  Baird,  Brewer,  and  Ridge- 
way,"  are  quoted  here :  — 

1.  Hybrids   with    the    muscovy  duck.     These 
are  produced  in  domestication;  the  offspring  seems 
to  acquire  the  tendencies  of  the  wild  bird,  and 
escapes.     It  has  the  broad  speculum  and  broad 
tail  of  the  muscovy  without  the  recurved  feathers 
of  the  mallard.     Head  and   upper  half  of  neck 
black  with  green  reflections,  white  on  throat  and 
under  the  eyes,  breast  and  sides  chestnut,  rest  of 
lower  parts  white.     Flanks  slate,  speculum  green, 
feet  orange.     Measurements:  wing  13.20,  culmen 
2.30,  tarsus  2. 20. 

2.  Hybrids  with  the  pintail.     No.  6668,   Na- 
tional   Museum.      This    specimen    in   form   and 
coloration  throughout  is  a  perfect  combination  ofr 
both  species.     The  upper  tail-coverts  are  purplish 
black,  the  two  middle  tail  feathers  are  elongated 
half  as  much  as  in  Dafila  acuta,  and  curled  half 
as  tightly  as  in  Anas   boschas.     Bill,  dark    lead 
color;  feet,  reddish;  wing  n  inches,  culmen  2.20, 
tarsus  1.55. 

3.  Hybrids  with  the  black  duck.     The  specimen 
is  an  adult  male.     Sides  and  back  of  head  brilliant 
green,  breast  strongly  tinged  with  chestnut,  the 
lateral,  upper,  and  terminal  lower  tail-coverts  are 
black  with  violet  reflections ;  middle  tail  feathers 


76  The  Water-fowl  Family 

recurved.  Length  23.50,  wing  10.75,  culmen  2.05. 
Iris  brown,  feet  dull  orange. 

I  once  shot  a  black  duck  in  which  the  head  was 
marked  with  a  few  green  feathers,  the  plumage 
otherwise  resembling  Anas  obscura.  These 
hybrids  with  the  black  duck  are  more  frequent 
than  supposed. 

No  duck  has  a  wider  geographical  range  than 
the  mallard.  In  the  Old  World  it  is  found  through- 
out Europe,  Asia,  and  northern  Africa,  breeding 
from  Spain  to  Lapland  and  Siberia;  in  North 
America,  from  the  Gulf  of  Mexico  to  the  Arctic 
Sea  and  from  coast  to  coast.  Generally  abundant 
throughout  the  United  States,  it  is  uncommon 
along  the  Atlantic  Coast,  north  of  the  Chesa- 
peake. The  mallard  breeds  sparingly  through 
most  of  its  range,  abundantly  in  the  United 
"States  from  the  northern  border  north ;  in  the 
Rocky  Mountains,  from  Montana  to  Alaska;  in 
the  interior,  from  Dakota  and  Manitoba  along  the 
watercourses  to  Hudson  Bay;  in  the  country 
west  from  Hudson  Bay  and  north  to  the  Arctic 
sea. 

The  marshy  ponds  and  sloughs  of  the  prairie 
are  the  nesting-grounds  of  vast  numbers.  The 
nest  is  placed  among  the  rushes  on  the  ground, 
and  is  composed  of  grass  and  weeds,  lined  with 
feathers.  The  eggs  number  from  twelve  to  fif- 
teen, and  are  covered  with  down.  In  the  far 


Duck-shooting  77 

North  the  nest  is  frequently  several  rods  from 
water,  usually  among  trees  or  scrub  brush ;  in 
rare  instances  the  bird  has  resorted  to  a  deserted 
hawk's  or  crow's  nest. 

During  the  period  of  incubation  the  duck  takes 
full  charge,  the  males  congregating  by  themselves. 
She  is  a  close  sitter,  and  can  sometimes  be  lifted 
from  her  nest.  If  disturbed,  the  old  bird  often 
feigns  wounded.  The  ducklings  take  readily  to 
the  water,  diving  and  hiding  at  the  suspicion  of 
danger.  By  the  latter  part  of  August  they  are 
fledged,  and  at  this  time  are  killed  in  large  num- 
bers by  the  natives. 

August  and  September,  1894,  were  spent  by  the 
writer  in  North  Dakota.  Early  in  September, 
mallards  and  shovellers  were  the  most  abundant 
ducks,  but  among  all  the  mallards  killed  there  was 
not  a  single  green-head,  nor  was  one  seen  until 
September  20,  when  a  drake  was  shot  in  about 
half-full  plumage.  By  the  first  week  in  October 
the  birds  are  well  established  in  their  fall  homes. 
The  extensive  marshes  of  our  Western  states  are 
their  favorite  resorts  in  the  early  fall,  and  on  their 
first  arrival  many  are  killed  from  boats  pushed 
through  the  rushes,  or  from  passes  along  their 
line  of  flight.  Continuous  persecution  soon 
makes  them  wild,  and  we  find  them  keeping  to 
the  open  water  during  the  day,  coming  at  night 
to  the  marshes  to  feed.  In  certain  localities  the 


78  The  Water-fowl  Family 

mallard  frequents  the  corn-fields  and  stubbles. 
They  are,  to  a  large  degree,  nocturnal  in  their 
habits,  and  depend  on  their  sense  of  touch  and 
smell  in  feeding.  When  hunting  a  few  years 
since  on  Currituck  Sound,  the  cunning  of  the 
mallards  especially  impressed  me.  Sunset  closes 
the  gunner's  day;  almost  immediately  the  first 
flocks  of  mallard  come  ;  the  marshes,  all  day  long 
devoid  of  ducks,  now  hear  their  whistling  wings. 
Birds  that  have  alighted  call  to  those  in  the  air, 
and  their  quacking  is  almost  a  din.  At  the  first 
streak  of  dawn  they  are  gone.  They  know  the 
close  days  as  well  as  the  hunter.  In  some  of  the 
ponds  near  the  club-house,  shooting  was  not 
allowed.  They  frequented  these  spots  with  as 
little  concern  as  the  flock  of  decoys  kept  there. 
Few  birds  come  to  stool  any  better  when  once 
they  start ;  often  the  live  decoys  see  them  first, 
and  the  far-off  flock  respond  to  the  call.  If  high 
in  air  they  drop  and  circle  within  range,  but,  quick 
to  notice  danger,  at  the  slightest  movement  from 
the  blind  they  spring  into  the  air  with  a  frightened 
quack  and  are  off.  The  rice  fields  of  the  South 
are  favorite  haunts,  and  on  this  diet  or  wild  celery 
the  flesh  is  unsurpassed.  In  parts  of  the  West 
along  the  salmon  rivers,  mallards  sometimes  feed 
on  the  maggots  infesting  the  dead  fish,  and  become 
intolerably  rank.  On  the  northeastern  coast  of 
the  United  States  and  Canada  the  bird  is  rare, 


Duck-shooting  79 

on  Long  Island  occasionally  occurring  among 
flocks  of  black  duck.  In  Connecticut  it  is  found 
regularly,  but  it  is  far  from  common.  Several 
instances  of  its  occurrence  in  the  last  few  years 
have  been  observed  by  the  writer.  Rarely  they 
have  been  killed  offshore  on  Long  Island  Sound. 
From  time  immemorial  the  mallard,  of  all  the  wild 
ducks,  has  been  most  readily  domesticated,  prob- 
ably because  of  its  general  distribution  in  all 
countries  and  climates,  and  has  been  known  to 
live  twenty-two  years  in  captivity. 

BLACK    DUCK 

(Anas  obscurd) 

Adult  male — Top  of  head,  black,  narrowly  edged  with  buff,  remainder 
of  head  and  neck,  buff,  streaked  with  brown  ;  throat  and  chin,  im- 
maculate buff;  rest  of  plumage,  dusky,  paler  beneath ;  all  the 
feathers,  except  those  on  lower  back  and  rump,  edged  with  light 
brown ;  speculum,  metallic  blue,  sometimes  green,  edged  with 
black  ;  lower  wing-coverts,  white  ;  bill,  yellowish  green  or  olive  ; 
nail,  black ;  legs  and  feet,  olivaceous  brown  ;  webs,  dusky ;  iris, 
brown. 

Measurements  —  Length,  22  inches ;  wing,  10.50  inches ;  oilmen, 
2.05  inches;  tarsus,  1.60  inches. 

Adult  female  —  Resembles  male,  but  is  usually  smaller  and  less 
richly  colored. 

Young  —  Similar  to  adult,  with  bill  more  of  a  greenish  hue  and 
streaked  with  dusky. 

Downy  young —  Above  olive-brown,  relieved  by  six  faint  markings  of 
buff,  one  pair  on  the  posterior  border  of  each  wing,  one  on  each 
side  of  back  behind  wings,  one  on  each  side  of  rump  ;  top  of  head 
and  back  of  neck,  brown  like  the  back ;  under  parts,  light  buff. 

Eggs  —  Six  to  twelve  in  number;  pale  buff  to  pale  greenish  buff; 
measure  2.30  by  1.70  inches. 


8o  The  Water-fowl  Family 

Habitat — Breeds  from  the  coast  of  North  Carolina  (formerly  ?)  and 
from  Pennsylvania,  Ohio,  Indiana  (?),  Illinois,  and  Iowa,  north 
to  Sable  Island,  Newfoundland,  southern  Labrador,  Quebec, 
Ontario,  and  eastern  Manitoba.  Winters  from  the  coast  of 
Massachusetts,  western  New  York  (?),  Indiana  (?),  and  Ken- 
tucky, south  to  Florida,  the  West  Indies,  Alabama,  and  Louisiana. 
Recorded  from  Bermuda  and  Texas  (?),  and  very  doubtfully 
from  Utah.  Rare  west  of  the  Alleghanies. 

This  bird  is  the  standard  game  duck  of  the 
northeastern  United  States  and  Canada,  occur- 
ring on  all  the  bodies  of  water  inland  and  along 
the  coast.  Exposed  on  all  sides  to  gunning  of 
every  description,  the  black  duck  thrives,  and 
holds  its  own  with  a  reputation  for  cunning  and 
wisdom  unsurpassed.  It  breeds  regularly  farther 
south  than  has  been  generally  supposed. 

Northern  New  England,  New  Brunswick,  Nova 
Scotia,  and  eastern  Canada  north  of  the  St. 
Lawrence  are  favorite  breeding-grounds.  It 
nests  sparingly  in  Massachusetts,  Connecticut, 
and  Long  Island.  For  several  years  the  writer 
noticed  in  early  August  a  brood  of  young  black 
duck  on  the  Quinnipiac  River,  a  short  distance 
from  New  Haven.  The  nest  is  composed  of 
coarse  grass,  and  is  generally  situated  in  a  swamp 
or  marsh  close  to  the  water.  From  eight  to 
twelve  eggs  are  laid.  The  young  are  hatched  in 
late  June,  and  carefully  guarded  and  concealed  by 
the  old  bird,  who  keeps  them  close  to  the  marsh, 
where  long  grass  and  weeds  afford  a  ready  protec- 


Duck-shooting  81 

tion.  If  disturbed  under  these  circumstances,  the 
old  duck  remains  perfectly  quiet,  only  quacking 
when  she  jumps  into  the  air.  Left  alone,  the 
young  ducks  occasionally  betray  their  presence 
by  a  frightened  peep.  The  brood  rapidly  grows 
to  full  size  on  a  diet  of  insects,  grubs,  and  various 
water-grasses,  and  by  the  latter  part  of  August 
are  full  grown  and  able  to  flap  out  of  the  long 
grass.  Now  they  are  easily  killed,  and  their  flesh 
is  most  tender  and  excellent. 

In  localities  where  blueberries  grow  near  the 
water  they  are  a  favorite  food.  On  the  Magdalen 
Islands  the  writer  has  frequently  seen  black  duck 
feeding  high  up  on  the  hills  among  the  blueberry 
bushes,  in  company  with  Hudsonian  curlew.  The 
families  soon  congregate,  and  in  the  early  fall  we 
find  them  in  flocks  of  more  than  fifty.  By  the 
middle  of  October  they  appear  in  numbers  along 
our  coast,  frequenting  the  ponds  and  rivers  a 
short  distance  inland  and  the  shallow  bays,  espe- 
cially where  there  are  marshes.  They  are  a  wel- 
come sight  to  every  duck-hunter.  At  first  killed 
in  some  numbers,  they  soon  learn  all  the  gunner's 
craft,  during  the  day  keeping  to  the  open  water, 
and  if  in  any  uncertain  place,  well  guarded  by  sen- 
tinels ;  they  spring  into  the  air  with  loud  quack- 
ing at  the  first  suspicion  of  danger.  In  places 
where  black  duck  are  much  hunted,  and  there  are 
few  spots  where  they  are  not,  the  birds  come  to 


82  The  Water-fowl  Family 

the  feeding-grounds  on  their  favorite  marshes 
only  at  night.  Here  pot-hunters  keep  watch, 
driving  them  off,  but  not  frequently  killing  many. 
An  overcast  moonlight  night  offers  the  best 
opportunity  for  this  illegal  shooting,  as  then  the 
birds  can  be  seen  at  some  distance. 

The  most  popular  hunting-grounds  for  black 
duck  are  the  marshes  near  the  shallow  bays  and 
larger  rivers  of  the  Atlantic  Coast,  from  the  St. 
Lawrence  to  Currituck  Sound.  The  large  marshes 
of  Lake  Erie  and  Ontario  are  famous  resorts.  On 
the  bays  about  the  Chesapeake  they  are  most  fre- 
quently killed  over  decoys,  placed  off  the  points 
and  islands,  where  rushes  and  marsh  grass  afford 
good  blinds.  If  the  birds  are  much  shot  at, 
live  decoys  are  far  the  most  satisfactory.  These 
can  be  used  jointly  with  the  wooden  stool,  and 
ducks  with  a  disposition  to  quack  should  be 
selected.  Heavy  weather  affords  best  chance  for 
shooting  black  duck.  The  birds  under  these  cir- 
cumstances leave  the  larger  bodies  of  water,  and 
lead  up  under  the  lee  of  points  close  to  the 
marshes,  keeping  continually  on  the  move.  No 
wild  duck  taxes  the  patience  of  a  gunner  more. 
Suspicious  and  wary,  they  often  circle  about  the 
stool,  lighting  beyond  them,  just  out  of  range, 
watching  for  the  slightest  movement,  when  they 
jump  high  in  the  air  with  an  exasperating  quack. 
If  wounded,  the  bird  skulks  with  head  just  above 


Duck-sbooting  83 

the  water's  edge ;  and  where  reeds  and  long  grass 
afford  shelter,  it  is  almost  impossible  to  retrieve 
except  by  a  well-trained  dog.  In  some  instances 
black  duck,  like  mallard,  are  baited  by  corn  placed 
on  the  feeding-ground.  If  exposed  to  tide  or 
current,  the  grain  should  be  well  soaked  first.  No 
food  is  too  good  for  black  duck,  and  on  the  tender 
grasses  abounding  on  the  feeding-grounds  of  the 
South  the  flavor  of  their  flesh  is  unsurpassed. 
Along  the  coast,  in  the  deeper  bays,  small  shell- 
fish and  Crustacea  comprise  part  of  their  diet, 
and  should  winter  weather  keep  them  from  the 
marshes  their  flesh  becomes  almost  fishy.  While 
many  black  duck  winter  along  the  New  England 
coast  where  they  find  open  water,  there  is  a  regu- 
lar spring  and  fall  migration  of  these  birds  winter- 
ing farther  south.  Late  in  March  we  find  them 
in  pairs.  Now  they  seek  the  smaller  ponds  and 
streams,  going  on  to  the  fresh-water  meadows. 
Birds  I  have  shot  at  this  time  have  often  had 
angleworms  in  their  stomachs. 

The  habits  of  the  black  duck  and  the  mallard 
are  similar,  and  in  localities  where  the  two  are 
found  they  associate.  The  flight  is  characteristic, 
high  and  strong  but  irregular,  and  not  in  any  line. 
When  near  by  the  white  under  wing-coverts  are 
noticeable.  Black  duck  can  be  reared  in  confine- 
ment, but  for  decoy  purposes  these  birds  are  not 
as  satisfactory  as  domesticated  mallards. 


84  The  Water-fowl  Family 

This  species  is  also  known  as  the  dusky  duck, 
and  the  black  mallard. 


RED-LEGGED    BLACK    DUCK 

{Anas  obscura  rubripes) 

Adult  male  —  "  Similar  to  A.  obscura,  but  larger ;  the  feathers  of  the 
pileum  conspicuously  edged  with  grayish  or  fulvous ;  the  dark 
markings  on  the  fore  neck  and  the  sides  of  the  head,  coarser, 
blacker,  and  more  sharply  defined;  the  entire  throat  usually 
streaked  or  spotted  with  blackish  ;  the  tarsi  and  toes  bright  red ; 
the  bill  yellow." 

Measurements  —  Length,  25  inches;  wing,  11  inches;  culmen,  2.15 
inches;  tarsus,  1.70  inches. 

Adult  female  —  Resembles  male,  but  is  smaller  and  less  richly 
colored. 

Eggs — (Probably  this  form  since  taken  at  Rupert  House,  James 
Bay)  grayish  white,  tinged  sometimes  with  green;  measure,  2.45 
by  1.77  inches. 

Habitat  —  Taken  in  the  breeding  season  from  James  Bay,  north  to 
northern  Labrador  and  the  west  shore  of  Hudson  Bay,  and 
probably  Fort  Anderson.  Occurs  in  the  migration  on  the 
Atlantic  Coast  from  Newfoundland  to  North  Carolina,  and  to 
Arkansas  in  the  interior,  wintering  from  Chignecto  Bay,  Nova 
Scotia,  south.  Probably  the  birds  recorded  in  winter  from 
western  New  York  and  Indiana,  and  possibly  those  in  Ken- 
tucky, as  well  as  part  of  the  migrants  reported  from  Ohio,  Illi- 
nois, Michigan,  Minnesota,  Wisconsin,  Nebraska,  and  Missouri, 
belong  to  this  subspecies. 

This  is  the  large  black  duck  with  red  legs  and 
a  yellow  bill  that  frequents  the  bays  of  New  Eng- 
land and  the  Middle  states  in  winter,  coming  to 
the  marshes  at  night  for  food  and  water,  when 
most  of  the  small  black  ducks,  with  olive  bills  and 
brownish  legs,  have  gone  farther  south.  The 


Duck-shooting  85 

difference    between    the    two    forms    has    been 
shown  recently  by  Mr.  William  Brewster. 

FLORIDA    DUCK 
{Anas  fulvigula) 

Similar  to  Anas  obscura,  but  slightly  smaller ;  the  difference  being 
its  lighter  color,  the  chin,  throat,  front  of  neck,  and  most  of 
cheeks  being  a  creamy  buff  and  unspotted ;  speculum,  green, 
sometimes  upper  part  white ;  the  buffy  ochraceous  margins  are 
wider  and  brighter  both  above  and  below.  A  constant  point 
of  distinction  is  in  the  bill,  the  base  of  which  in  this  species  is 
margined  by  a  narrow  black  line,  which  widens  out  into  a  tri- 
angular space  beneath  the  feathering  of  the  lores. 

Measurements  —  Length,  20  inches;  wing,  10  to  10.50  inches  ;  tail, 
5  inches;  culmen,  2.05  to  2.33  inches;  width  of  bill,  .90  inch; 
tarsus,  1.70  to  1.80  inches;  middle  toe,  1.90  to  2  inches. 

Eggs  —  Eight  to  fourteen  in  number;  pale  dull  buff,  sometimes 
tinged  with  green;  measure  2.15  by  1.60  inches. 

Habitat  —  Resident  in  Florida,  chiefly  in  the  southern  part  of  the 
state,  and  becoming  rare.  Possibly  occurs  in  West  Indies  ;  re- 
corded also  from  Louisiana,  and  said  to  breed  on  the  coast. 

The  Florida  black  duck  for  a  long  time  has 
been  recognized  as  a  distinct  species.  Its  breed- 
ing range  is  confined  entirely  to  the  South. 
Instances  of  the  black  duck  breeding  south  of 
the  Carolinas  are  probably  this  variety.  The 
nesting  time  in  Florida  is  early  in  April  (accord- 
ing to  Mr.  N.  B.  Moore).  The  bird  nests  not 
frequently  at  some  distance  from  the  water's  edge, 
always  on  the  ground.  The  female  plucks  the 
down  from  her  breast  for  the  nest  lining.  Eight 
to  ten  eggs  are  laid  of  a  slightly  lighter  shade 


86  The  Water-fowl  Family 

than  the  eggs  of  the  common  black  duck.  In  its 
habit  the  bird  closely  resembles  Anas  obscura. 
The  flesh  is  excellent. 

Mr.  N.  B.  Moore,  in  "  Baird,  Brewer,  and  Ridge- 
way,"  gives  an  interesting  description  of  this  bird  : 
"  In  August  and  September  small  flocks  leave  the 
fresh  ponds  and  fly  across  the  bay  to  sand-bars  on 
the  inner  sides  of  the  keys,  where  they  spend  the 
night  in  pools  or  coves,  returning  at  sunrise. 
Those  shot  at  this  time  are  all  males.  In  the 
late  winter  and  early  spring  mated  birds  resort  to 
the  same  places."  Mr.  Moore  suggests  as  a 
reason  for  this  species  not  being  more  common 
in  the  districts  it  frequents,  the  sweeping  fires 
which  destroy  the  dry  grass. 

MOTTLED    DUCK 

(Anas  fulvigula  maculosd) 

This  subspecies  resembles  closely  the  Florida  variety,  differing  from  it 
in  that  the  cheeks  are  streaked  with  brown,  instead  of  being  plain 
buff;  the  speculum  is  purple;  in  general  effect  the  plumage  is 
mottled  and  not  streaked ;  bill  has  a  small  black  spot  on  base 
of  lower  edge  of  upper  mandible,  as  in  the  Florida  variety ;  feet, 
reddish  orange. 

Measurements  —  Length,  20  inches  ;  wing,  10  inches;  culmen,  2.25 
inches;  tarsus,  1.75  inches;  middle  toe,  1.50  inches. 

Eggs  —  Seven  to  ten  in  number ;  resemble  those  of  the  Florida  duck 
in  color  and  measurement. 

Habitat  —  Breeds  from  Louisiana,  Texas,  and  probably  northern 
Mexico,  north  to  Kansas,  and  has  been  taken  in  Colorado. 
Winters  on  the  Gulf  Coast  of  Louisiana,  Texas,  and  northern 
Mexico. 


Duck-shooting  87 

For  years  the  mottled  duck  was  confused  with 
the  black  duck,  and  still  later  with  the  Florida 
duck.  Its  habits  are  similar  to  those  of  these  birds. 

Mr.  E.  A.  Mcllhenny  states  that  on  April  28, 
1896,  he  shot  in  Louisiana  a  male  mallard  (A. 
boschas)  mated  with  a  female  of  this  species,  and 
collected  the  nest  with  ten  eggs. 

GADWALL 
(Chaulelasmus  streperus) 

Adult  male  —  Top  of  head,  reddish  brown  of  varying  shades,  spotted 
with  black ;  rest  of  head,  light  buff  speckled  with  dark  brown ; 
throat,  indistinctly  spotted  with  brown ;  upper  part  of  back  and 
breast,  marked  with  crescentric  black  and  white  bars ;  back, 
scapulars,  and  flanks,  undulated  with  slate-color  and  white ;  long 
scapulars,  edged  with  brown ;  lesser  coverts,  gray ;  middle  cov- 
erts, chestnut;  greater  coverts,  black;  secondaries,  pale  gray, 
with  outer  edge  forming  a  speculum  of  white ;  upper  and  under 
tail-coverts,  black ;  tail,  dark  gray,  edged  with  white ;  rest  of 
under  parts,  white ;  bill,  bluish  black ;  nail,  black ;  iris,  hazel ; 
legs  and  feet  vary  from  yellowish  to  orange-yellow ;  webs,  dark. 

Measurements  —  Length,  20  inches;  wing,  10.75  inches;  tail,  8.90 
inches;  culmen,  1. 80  inches;  tarsus,  1.70  inches. 

Adult  female  —  Somewhat  resembles  the  male,  but  the  upper  parts 
dusky,  edged  with  buff,  and  the  under  wing-coverts  are  pure 
white,  and  there  is  little  or  no  chestnut  on  the  lesser  wing- 
coverts  ;  bill,  dusky  orange  near  the  edges ;  legs  and  feet,  yel- 
lowish, with  dark  webs  ;  slightly  smaller  than  the  male. 

Measurements  —  Length,  19  inches  ;  wing,  10  inches  ;  culmen,  1.70 
inches;  tarsus,  i. 60  inches. 

Young —  Similar  to  female,  but  with  no  chestnut  or  black  on  the 
wings. 

Downy  young —  Upper  parts,  dark  brown,  with  yellow  spots  on 
sides  and  back  and  rump;  lower  parts,  grayish;  forehead, 
throat,  and  chest,  yellowish. 


88  The  Water-Jowl  Family 

Eggs  —  Eight  to  twelve  in  number;  cream-color;  measure,  2.15  by 
1.50  inches. 

Habitat —  "  Nearly  cosmopolitan."  In  North  America,  breeds  from 
Ohio,  Michigan,  Minnesota,  Nebraska,  Colorado,  Utah,  Nevada, 
and  the  interior  of  California,  north  to  Ontario,  Hudson  Bay, 
Assiniboia,  and  Alberta,  and  possibly  the  lower  Mackenzie  and 
the  Yukon  rivers.  Winters  from  Virginia,  possibly  Maryland, 
Illinois,  Louisiana,  Texas,  Arizona,  Utah,  Wyoming,  and  Cali- 
fornia, south  to  Lower  California,  Mexico,  and  the  West  Indies. 
In  migrations  occurs  very  rarely  on  the  Atlantic  Coast  north  to 
Maine  and  Quebec,  and  on  the  Pacific  to  British  Columbia,  and 
one  is  recorded  from  the  Aleutian  Islands  in  December.  Occurs 
in  Bermuda. 

The  gadwall  is  found  more  commonly  in  the 
interior  than  on  the  coast,  and  seems  to  prefer  the 
prairie  sloughs  and  marshes  to  the  wooded  lakes. 
The  table-lands  of  North  America,  from  Dakota 
and  Montana  south  into  Mexico,  is  the  area  over 
which  they  are  most  abundant.  In  April,  1901, 
near  Tampico,  I  saw  thousands  of  these  birds. 
They  were  in  large  flocks  near  the  shores  of  the 
lakes.  We  approached  them  in  our  dugouts  and 
had  no  difficulty  in  coming  within  range,  the  birds 
starting  up  in  front  and  settling  down  ahead  to 
other  flocks.  At  this  time  they  did  not  appear 
to  be  mated.  The  flesh  was  excellent,  and  a 
happy  change  from  the  monotony  of  a  Mexican 
diet.  Later  in  May  we  found  them  still  common 
near  Chihuahua ;  here  they  were  in  pairs,  evidently 
about  to  nest. 

The  gadwall  undoubtedly  breeds  throughout 
most  of  its  range.  Creeks  and  marshes  well 


Duck-shooting  89 

lined  with  rushes  are  the  sites  selected.  Here 
the  nest  is  placed  on  the  ground,  constructed  of 
grass,  and  carefully  concealed,  the  duck  covering 
her  eggs  well  with  down.  The  young  birds  are 
fledged  late  in  August.  In  North  Dakota  many 
of  the  ducks  seen  in  early  September  are  gadwall, 
young  birds  undoubtedly  bred  in  the  vicinity. 
They  leave  before  the  first  of  October.  In  most 
of  the  more  popular  duck-hunting  resorts  through- 
out the  United  States,  this  bird  is  not  as  frequently 
met  with  as  other  water-fowl.  This,  and  the  fact 
that  it  does  not  decoy  readily,  makes  it  somewhat 
of  a  stranger.  The  gadwall  is  found  most  often 
in  small  flocks  by  itself  or  in  the  company  of 
widgeon.  It  feeds  in  the  shallow  muddy  creeks 
and  pools  on  various  kinds  of  vegetable  matter. 
The  birds  become  very  fat,  and  if  shot  from  a 
height  the  fall  sometimes  breaks  open  the  skin. 
The  flesh  is  delicate  and  tender,  but  in  localities 
has  a  sedgy  taste.  On  the  wing  the  gadwall  is 
an  imposing  bird,  the  dark  breast  giving  it  a 
black  appearance.  It  is  known  by  a  variety  of 
names,  such  as  creek-duck,  speckled  belly,  gray 
duck,  gray  widgeon,  Welch  drake,  German  duck. 

EUROPEAN  WIDGEON 

{Mareca  penelope) 

Adult  male — Forehead  and  top  of  head,  white,  sometimes  buff,  rest 
of  head  rufous  brown  ;  cluster  of  small  green  spots  behind  eye ; 
chin  and  throat,  black ;  breast,  pinkish  brown ;  back  and  sides, 


90  The  Water-fowl  Family 

undulated  with  black  and  white  ;  wing-coverts,  white  ;  speculum, 
green;  lower  parts,  white;  under  tail-coverts,  black;  tail, 
pointed,  brownish,  becoming  black  at  tip ;  iris,  hazel ;  bill, 
slate ;  nail,  black  ;  legs  and  feet,  slate,  with  dusky  webs. 

Measurements — Length,  18  inches;  wing,  10  inches;  culmen,  1.40 
inches;  tarsus,  1.50  inches. 

Adult  female  —  Head  and  neck,  rusty,  speckled  with  black;  upper 
parts,  dusky  brown,  margined  with  gray  ;  wings,  greenish  brown ; 
speculum,  dull  black ;  upper  tail-coverts,  brown ;  tail,  purplish 
brown,  feathers  edged  with  white ;  breast  and  sides,  light  brown  ; 
rest  of  under  parts,  white  ;  under  tail-coverts,  barred  with  black- 
ish brown ;  iris,  brown ;  bill,  slate ;  nail,  black ;  legs  and  feet, 
brown,  with  dusky  webs. 

Measurements — Length,  18  inches;  wing,  10.50  inches;  culmen, 
1.36  inches  ;  tarsus,  1.50  inches. 

Eggs  —  Five  to  eight  in  number;  pale  buff;  measure,  2.20  by  1.50 
inches. 

Habitat  —  The  northern  parts  of  the  eastern  hemisphere,  breeding 
west  to  Iceland.  Breeds  probably  also  on  the  Aleutian  Islands 
and  possibly  in  Greenland  and  west  of  Hudson  Bay.  In  the 
migrations  and  in  winter,  several  have  been  recorded  from  Cali- 
fornia, one  from  Nova  Scotia,  and  twenty-five  or  thirty  from 
Massachusetts,  New  York,  New  Jersey,  Maryland,  Virginia, 
Indiana,  Illinois,  Michigan,  Wisconsin,  Nebraska,  and  from  Ken- 
ewatin  and  Great  Slave  Lake,  though  the  last  record  may  refer 
to  M.  americana,  as  the  Kenewatin  record  certainly  does. 

This  bird,  while  breeding  off  Alaska  to  some 
extent,  is  a  rare  straggler  to  the  United  States; 
the  more  noteworthy  instances  of  its  occurrences 
being  on  Long  Island,  December,  1842,  Alex- 
andria, Virginia,  occasionally  along  the  coast  of 
California.  Two  instances  the  writer  has  seen : 
one  an  adult  male,  taken  on  the  Illinois  River; 
the  second  a  full-plumaged  male,  killed  on  Long 
Island  in  the  winter  of  1899.  The  bird  in  most 


Duck-shooting  91 

cases  has  been  shot  in  company  with  the  American 
widgeon.  That  it  occurs  more  frequently  than  is 
supposed,  would  be  indicated  by  the  fact  that  in 
some  localities  gunners  speak  of  a  red-headed 
widgeon,  supposing  the  bird  to  be  a  cross  between 
a  red-head  and  a  common  widgeon,  or  baldpate. 
Undoubtedly  birds  of  this  species  are  referred  to. 
In  habits  the  European  widgeon  resembles  the 
American  variety,  frequenting  marshes  and  shal- 
low bodies  of  water  in  their  vicinity ;  but,  unlike 
the  American  baldpate,  is  frequently  seen  on  salt 
water,  feeding  almost  entirely  on  the  short  grass 
growing  on  the  bottom.  The  widgeon  has  been 
known  to  reach  the  age  of  twenty-three  years. 

BALDPATE 

(Mareca  americand) 

Adult  male  —  Forehead  and  top  of  head,  white  ;  a  patch  of  metallic 
green  behind  the  eye  extends  down  the  neck  posteriorly; 
remainder  of  head,  buff  speckled  with  black  ;  back  and  scapulars, 
brown,  undulated  with  black ;  wing-coverts,  white ;  the  greater 
coverts,  tipped  with  black  forming  a  bar  across  the  wing ;  specu- 
lum, green  and  black;  under  wing-coverts,  white;  breast  and 
sides,  pale  lilac,  rest  of  under  parts,  pure  white ;  under  tail-coverts 
black ;  tail,  brown,  edged  with  white ;  bill,  slate,  with  a  black 
nail;  legs  and  feet,  slate  with  dusty  webs. 

Measurements  —  Length,  19  inches  ;  wing,  10.50  inches  ;  culmen,  1 .50 
inches;  tarsus  1.50  inches. 

Adult  female  —  Top  of  head,  black,  edged  with  white ;  rest  of  head, 
buff  streaked  with  dusky;  upper  breast  and  sides,  reddish 
buff,  with  dark  spots  on  breast;  rest  of  under  parts,  white; 
upper  parts,  dusky,  barred  with  buff;  iris,  brown  ;  legs  and  feet, 
brown  with  dusky  webs, 


92  Tbe  Water-fowl  Family 

Measurements  —  Length,  18  inches  ;  wing,  10.20  inches ;  culmen,  1.40 
inches;  tarsus,  1.40  inches. 

Young  male  —  Resembles  the  female  closely.  Its  general  coloring, 
however,  is  deeper.  The  breast  and  flanks  are  more  vinaceous, 
and  the  wing  markings  more  clearly  defined. 

Downy  young — Upper  parts,  dark  olive;  lower  part  of  head  and 
neck  and  under  parts,  lighter ;  spots  of  buff  on  each  side  of 
back  and  rump. 

Eggs  —  Eight  to  twelve  in  number ;  ivory-white  in  color ;  measure 
2.20  by  1.45  inches. 

Habitat — Recorded  as  breeding  from  Indiana,  Illinois,  Minnesota, 
Kansas,  Colorado,  Texas,  Arizona,  Utah,  and  British  Columbia, 
north  to  Hudson  Bay,  Fort  Anderson,  Kotzebue  Sound,  the 
Yukon  Delta,  and  probably  the  Aleutian  Islands :  breeds  chiefly 
north  of  the  United  States.  Winters  from  Maryland,  irregularly 
north  to  Maine,  Indiana,  the  lower  Mississippi  Valley,  Texas, 
Idaho,  Nevada,  and  British  Columbia,  south  to  the  West  Indies, 
Central  America,  and  Lower  California.  Recorded  as  a  migrant 
in  Newfoundland  and  Labrador,  and  as  a  straggler  in  Europe, 
Bering  Islands,  Kamchatka,  Hawaii,  and  Bermuda. 


This  bird  bears  the  unenviable  reputation  of 
a  telltale;  quick  to  notice  danger  and  always 
ready  to  sound  an  alarm,  many  a  flock  of  unsus- 
pecting ducks  has  turned  out  of  harm's  way 
under  the  leadership  of  a  wary  widgeon. 

The  favorite  haunts  in  the  United  States  are 
the  lakes  and  rivers  of  the  middle  and  western 
United  States  and,  in  localities,  the  coasts.  They 
are  common  along  the  southern  and  Lower  Cali- 
fornia shores  and  on  the  Atlantic  south  of 
Maryland. 

The  breeding-grounds  are  well  to  the  north,  on 
the  Yukon  and  Mackenzie  rivers,  even  to  the 


Duck-shooting  93 

Arctic  Sea,  rarely  in  the  northern  United  States, 
both  east  and  west  of  the  Rocky  Mountains. 
Wild  lakes  and  rivers  not  much  frequented  by 
other  ducks  are  the  spots  widgeon  choose  for 
their  nests,  which  are  placed  on  high  dry  ground 
in  the  woods,  sometimes  half  a  mile  from  water. 
The  nest  is  constructed  among  the  dry  leaves, 
usually  at  the  foot  of  a  tree,  the  eggs  well  covered 
with  down.  During  incubation  the  males  collect 
by  themselves  and  moult,  assuming  through  the 
summer  a  dull  plumage.  In  early  October  they 
appear  in  Dakota,  Montana,  and  Minnesota,  choos- 
ing the  ponds  and  lakes  of  larger  size.  At  first 
they  are  shot  in  some  numbers  where  there  are 
passes  under  their  flight;  but  they  quickly  become 
shy  and  fly  high  over  land.  A  little  later  we  find 
them  throughout  California  and  Colorado,  and  in 
the  valley  of  the  Salt  Lake.  By  the  end  of 
October  they  appear  on  the  Atlantic  Coast.  Here 
the  mouths  of  the  larger  rivers  and  bays  of 
brackish  water  are  their  haunts.  As  they  keep 
well  out  of  range  of  the  points  and  only  fly  high 
over  the  marshes,  it  is  difficult  to  kill  them.  At 
times  these  birds  associate  with  canvas-back  and 
black-heads,  feeding  on  the  grass  the  others  dive 
for,  and  hence  the  name  poacher.  In  heavy 
weather,  with  mallard  and  black  duck,  they  come 
on  to  the  marshes  within  range  of  the  blind.  In 
these  instances  the  widgeon  is  usually  the  first  to 


94  The  Water-fowl  Family 

give  alarm;  rising  high  in  the  air  with  strong, 
swift  flight,  it  quickly  speeds  beyond  reach. 
Often  we  see  flocks  of  them  with  pintail,  both 
birds  being  of  much  the  same  habit.  Usually  in 
small  numbers,  widgeon  collect  in  large  flocks  in 
the  spring.  On  Currituck  Sound,  in  March  of 
some  years,  the  numbers  of  these  ducks  are 
remarkable  and  yet  few  are  killed.  They  seem 
to  have  a  morning  and  evening  flight.  In  the 
late  afternoon,  flock  after  flock,  high  up,  far  out  of 
range,  follow  each  other  in  quick  succession  lead- 
ing toward  the  marshes  and  flats  of  the  upper 
bay,  returning  in  the  early  morning.  The  line  of 
flight  is  abreast,  and  their  clear  whistling  loud 
and  characteristic.  When  wounded  the  bird 
skulks  but  seldom  dives.  They  feed  on  wild 
celery  where  it  exists,  and  on  various  water 
grasses,  in  the  South  visiting  the  rice-fields.  It 
is  one  of  our  highly  esteemed  ducks  for  the  table. 
In  the  various  locations  where  it  is  found  it  goes 
by  various  names,  such  as  the  American  widgeon, 
poacher,  wheat-duck,  baldcrown,  baldpate,  green- 
headed  widgeon,  zan-zan. 

The  female  of  this  species  resembles  slightly 
the  gadwall,  but  distinction  can  readily  be  made 
by  the  speculum,  which  is  gray  in  the  gadwall,  in 
the  widgeon  black,  and  by  the  dark  mandible. 


Duck-shooting  95 

EUROPEAN    GREEN-WINGED   TEAL 

(Nettion  crecca) 

Adult  male — Similar  to  the  American  species,  but  without  white 
bar  on  the  breast ;  the  forehead  and  wing-coverts  bordered  by  a 
pale  buff  line ;  the  black  and  white  markings  on  back  and  sides 
are  broader.  The  female  is  hardly  distinguishable  from  the 
female  of  the  American  green-winged  teal. 

Habitat — Inhabits  the  northern  parts  of  eastern  hemisphere,  breed- 
ing from  Iceland  to  the  Commander  Islands,  and  south  to  north- 
western Africa  and  Japan,  and  in  winter  occurs  from  the 
Canary  Islands,  northern  Africa,  Somaliland,  and  India,  east 
to  the  Philippines.  Recorded  in  North  America  from  Green- 
land, Labrador,  Nova  Scotia,  Massachusetts,  Connecticut,  New 
York,  Virginia,  California,  and  the  Aleutian  Islands. 

This  bird  has  occasionally  been  taken  in  many 
parts  of  America,  and  is  probably  more  common 
than  supposed,  it  being  overlooked  on  account 
of  its  close  resemblance  to  the  North  American 
variety. 

In  size,  eggs,  and  habits  it  resembles  our 
species. 

GREEN-WINGED   TEAL 
{Netlion  carolinensis) 

Adult  male  —  Head  and  neck,  chestnut,  with  broad,  metallic  green 
band  from  eye  to  nape,  terminating  in  a  tuft  of  purplish  black ; 
a  narrow,  buff  line  borders  the  under  side  of  the  green  band ; 
chin,  black ;  back  and  sides,  crossed  with  narrow,  wavy  black 
and  white  lines ;  lower  back,  dark  brownish  gray ;  upper  tail- 
coverts,  dusky,  edged  with  white ;  tail  feathers,  brownish  gray, 
edged  with  white  ;  a  broad  white  bar  in  front  of  bend  of  wing ; 
speculum,  metallic  green,  bordered  beneath  by  a  broad,  black 
bar,  tipped  with  white ;  breast,  light  buff,  mottled  with  round, 
black  spots,  growing  indistinct  on  under  parts,  which  are  white ; 


96  The  Water-fowl  Family 

buff  patch  on  each  side  of  crissum ;  under  tail-coverts,  black ; 
bill,  black  ;  legs  and  feet,  dark  brown  ;  webs,  dusky. 

Measurements  —  Length,  14. 50  inches;  wing,  7.25  inches;  culmen, 
1.50  inches;  tarsus,  1.25  inches. 

Adult  female  —  Top  of  head  and  neck,  brown,  feathers  edged  with 
ochraceous ;  sides  of  head  and  neck,  light  buff,  speckled  with 
dusky ;  chin  and  throat,  buff;  upper  parts,  dusky,  feathers  barred 
and  margined  with  pale  buff;  wing,  similar  to  male ;  rump,  tail, 
and  upper  tail-coverts,  brown,  edged  with  white ;  upper  part  of 
breast,  dark  buff,  spotted  with  brown ;  rest  of  under  parts,  white, 
with  dusky  spots  ;  legs  and  feet,  brown  ;  webs,  dusky. 

Measurements  —  Length,  14.25  inches;  wing,  6.70  inches;  culmen, 
i. 40  inches;  tarsus,  I  inch. 

Young  male  —  Like  the  female,  but  under  parts,  except  sides,  pure 
white.  The  wing  is  usually  brighter. 

Downy  young — Upper  parts,  grayish  brown,  a  buff  spot  on  each 
side  of  back  and  rump ;  head,  neck,  and  lower  parts,  pale  buff; 
top  of  head,  darker  brown. 

Eggs  —  Eight  to  sixteen  in  number,  pale  buff  in  color,  and  measure 
i. 80  by  1.30  inches. 

Habitat  —  Breeds  from  Newfoundland,  New  Brunswick,  Vermont, 
Quebec,  possibly  Pennsylvania,  Indiana,  Michigan,  and  Ontario, 
Minnesota,  South  Dakota,  Utah,  and  Oregon,  and  south  in  the 
mountains  to  Colorado,  Arizona,  and  probably  New  Mexico, 
north  to  Labrador,  possibly  Greenland,  Fort  Anderson,  Kotzebue 
Sound,  and  St.  Michael,  Alaska,  and  the  Aleutian  Islands.  Win- 
ters from  Maryland,  casually  north  to  Maine,  western  New  York, 
Pennsylvania,  Indiana,  Illinois,  Nebraska,  Texas,  Nevada,  Brit- 
ish Columbia,  and  the  Aleutian  Islands,  south  to  the  West 
Indies,  Central  America,  and  Lower  California.  Recorded  from 
Great  Britain,  Bermuda,  and  Hawaii. 

This  beautiful  bird  resembles  almost  exactly  the 
European  variety.  While  well  known  through- 
out our  country  it  is  not  particularly  common 
on  the  Atlantic  Coast.  The  green-winged  teal 
breeds  farther  north  than  the  blue-winged,  and 


Duck-shooting  97 

follows  it  on  the  southern  migration.  In  summer 
passing  into  the  British  provinces,  they  nest  as 
far  north  as  Hudson  Bay  and  Alaska,  the  south- 
ern limit  of  their  breeding  range  being  our 
northern  mountain  states.  The  nest,  placed  in 
a  marsh  and  composed  of  grass,  is  neatly  hidden. 
In  mountainous  countries  a  meadow  along  the 
stream  is  often  the  site.  Occasionally  the  nearest 
water  is  some  distance  off,  but  this  is  an  excep- 
tion. The  broods  are  often  large,  and  we  some- 
times see  this  little  duck  with  a  charge  of  eighteen 
or  more  ducklings.  The  young,  about  the  size 
of  bantam  chicks,  follow  the  mother,  keeping 
close  to  the  shore  in  shallow  water,  seldom  ven- 
turing far  from  the  cover  of  grass  or  weeds. 
On  September  10,  1890,  at  the  Magdalen  Islands, 
I  flushed  a  female  of  this  species.  The  bird  ex- 
hibited every  sign  of  distress.  Soon  a  faint  peep 
almost  under  foot  revealed  a  little  teal  just 
hatched.  After  a  careful  search  we  found  several 
others  in  the  short  grass.  The  old  bird  kept 
close  by,  flying  within  a  few  feet  of  us,  uttering 
a  plaintive  note  of  alarm.  This  was  undoubtedly 
a  late  second  brood. 

The  green- winged  teal  arrive  in  the  United 
States  after  the  blue-winged,  and  we  find  them 
in  flocks  together  in  September.  They  associate 
often  with  mallard  and  black  duck,  and  have  many 
habits  in  common.  In  Mexico  the  three  varie- 


98  The  Water-fowl  Family 

ties  of  teal  are  abundant,  occurring  together  for  a 
short  time  in  the  spring  of  the  year.  In  April 
the  green-  and  blue-winged  were  about  equal  in 
number  with  an  occasional  cinnamon  teal.  Three 
weeks  later  the  green-winged  teal  had  mostly  gone, 
but  we  saw  the  blue-winged  with  the  cinnamon. 

On  the  Atlantic  Coast  this  bird  occasionally 
straggles  offshore  and  is  killed  with  the  sea 
ducks.  An  instance  of  this  came  to  my  notice 
last  winter,  when  a  full-plumaged  male  was  killed 
by  Charles  Langfare,  off  Branford,  Connecticut, 
in  the  Sound;  it  came  to  broadbill  decoys. 

The  favorite  haunts  of  the  green-winged  teal 
in  the  United  States  are  the  marshes  and  shallow 
lakes  of  the  Western  states.  It  is  common  in  the 
Rocky  Mountain  states  and  in  California,  arriv- 
ing early  in  September  and  remaining  until  the 
first  cold  weather,  when  it  is  one  of  the  first  of 
our  ducks  to  leave  for  warmer  climates.  They 
follow  the  Mississippi  Valley  to  the  Gulf  states 
and  are  found  along  the  Gulf  of  Mexico  as  far 
south  as  the  shores  of  Central  America,  and  at 
tinies  are  numerous  in  the  West  Indies.  Popular 
with  sportsmen  and  killed  relentlessly  by  market 
gunners,  this  bird  is  exposed  everywhere  within 
its  available  range  to  persecution;  yet  it  is  a 
pleasure  to  feel  there  are  some  localities  where 
the  green-winged  teal  still  exists  in  large  numbers, 
gentle  and  undisturbed. 


Duck-shooting  99 

BLUE-WINGED   TEAL 

(Querquedula  discors) 

Adult  male  —  Top  of  head,  chin,  and  space  along  base  of  bill,  black ; 
a  crescentric  band  of  white,  edged  with  black,  goes  from  the 
forehead  in  front  of  the  eye  to  the  throat;  rest  of  head  and 
neck  plumbaceous,  with  a  metallic  purple  gloss  on  occiput ; 
back,  dusky,  with  bars  of  buff ;  long  scapulars,  greenish  black, 
with  a  central  stripe  of  buff;  lesser  wing-coverts,  pale  blue; 
greater  coverts,  dusky,  with  white  tips  forming  a  bar  in  front  of 
the  speculum,  which  is  metallic  green  ;  lower  back  and  upper  tail- 
coverts,  dusky ;  a  white  patch  on  each  side  of  the  tail ;  entire 
lower  parts,  reddish  buff,  spotted  with  dusky,  becoming  paler  on 
lower  breast ;  under  tail-coverts,  black  ;  iris,  brown  ;  bill,  black  ; 
legs  and  feet,  yellow,  with  dusky  webs. 

Measurements — Length,  15  inches;  wing,  7.30  inches;  oilmen, 
1.70  inches;  tarsus,  1.20  inches. 

Adult  female  —  Top  of  head,  black ;  remainder  of  head  and  neck, 
buff,  streaked  with  dusky  ;  chin  and  throat,  white  ;  upper  parts, 
dusky,  feathers  edged  with  buff;  wing-coverts,  blue,  but  green 
speculum  is  wanting ;  under  parts,  buff,  with  dusky  markings ; 
bill,  greenish  black ;  legs  and  feet,  greenish  yellow.  The  blue 
patch  on  the  shoulder  is  distinctive. 

Measurements  —  Length,  15  inches;  wing,  7  inches;  oilmen,  1.40 
inches;  tarsus,  1.12  inches. 

Young  male  —  Similar  to  female ;  white  throat,  speckled  with  dusky ; 
green  speculum  is  visible ;  under  parts,  buff,  barred  with  dusky. 
Male  during  breeding  season  assumes  the  dull  plumage  of  the 
female. 

Downy  young — Top  of  head  and  upper  parts,  brown ;  buff  spots  in 
front  of  wing,  across  wing,  and  at  side  of  rump ;  forehead,  line 
to  eye  and  lower  parts,  pale  buff;  sides  of  head  and  hind  neck, 
ochraceous  buff. 

Eggs  —  Ten  to  twelve  in  number,  pale  buff  in  color,  and  measure 
1.85  by  1.30  inches. 

Habitat — Breeds  from  Maine,  occasionally  Rhode  Island,  western 
New  York,  Ohio,  Indiana,  Illinois,  Iowa,  Kansas,  Colorado, 
Nevada,  Wyoming,  and  British  Columbia,  and  probably  Texas, 


ioo  The  Water-fowl  Family 

Arizona,  Mexico,  and  Lower  California,  north  to  New  Bruns- 
wick, Labrador,  Repulse  Bay,  Great  Slave  Lake,  Saskatchewan, 
and  possibly  the  Yukon  Delta.  Winters  from  Maryland,  Ken- 
tucky, Missouri,  Texas,  and  California,  south  to  the  West  Indies, 
and  South  America  to  Ecuador.  Rare  on  the  Pacific  Coast, 
and  in  Newfoundland  and  Nova  Scotia  in  migration.  Re- 
corded from  Europe  and  Bermuda. 

While  the  blue-winged  teal  is  generously  dis- 
tributed in  the  northern  United  States  and  lower 
provinces  of  Canada,  the  birds  are  in  no  way 
partial  to  cold  weather  and  hurry  along  at  the 
first  frosts.  True  to  the  sunny  South,  they  loiter 
on  its  inland  waters  and  winter  along  the  bays 
and  lagoons  of  the  Gulf  Coast,  well  into  the 
tropics.  This  bird  loves  the  rice-fields,  where 
the  nature  of  the  place  affords  protection  when 
once  the  flocks  are  settled,  their  danger  being  on 
the  flight  to  and  from  the  feeding-ground.  On 
this  diet  the  teal  attains  the  high  reputation  it 
holds  among  epicures.  In  late  August  we  find 
them  fully  fledged,  frequenting  the  marshes  of 
the  West  where  the  wild  rice  grows.  They  are 
relentlessly  hunted  from  time  of  first  arrival.  Dur- 
ing the  hours  that  are  sacred  to  the  duck  marsh, 
the  time  after  dawn  and  toward  dusk,  they  are 
found.  At  first  many  are  killed  by  pushing 
through  the  grass  as  they  jump  up  in  front  of  the 
skiff  or  on  their  line  of  flight  between  the  ponds. 
At  the  approach  of  evening  the  first  line  appears 
over  the  tops  of  the  rush-grass,  flying  low  and  with 


Duckrsbooting  101 

a  speed  possessed  only  by  a  teal.  Another  minute 
and  they  have  passed ;  the  rush  of  their  wings 
told  how  closely  they  came ;  but  no  one  but  an 
old  hand  could  have  stopped  one.  The  next 
flock  follow,  the  gunner  rises  in  time,  and  they 
sheer  off,  crowding  together  in  an  attempt  to 
turn ;  but  a  well-placed  shot  drops  several  birds. 
So  they  come  on  until  dark,  when  the  soft 
whistling  overhead  tells  of  ducks  still  looking 
for  a  spot  to  feed  and  spend  the  night  in 
peace. 

The  male  blue-winged  teal  in  his  full  spring 
dress  is  one  of  our  beautiful  water-fowl.  The 
delicate  brown  speckling  of  the  breast,  the  light 
blue  and  white  of  the  wing,  and  the  soft  violet  of 
the  head,  with  a  face  of  white,  make  a  pleasing 
combination.  In  this  plumage  he  is  seen  in 
April  and  May,  but  not  commonly  on  the  eastern 
coast,  the  journey  north  being  along  the  water- 
courses of  the  interior.  We  found  large  numbers 
of  them  near  Tampico.  It  was  late  April,  and 
they  were  mated  but  still  in  small  flocks.  Undis- 
turbed and  tame,  they  gathered  at  the  water's 
edge  on  the  shores,  keeping  company  with  the 
yellowlegs  and  other  waders ;  if  alarmed,  they  ran 
along  the  flats  with  the  speed  of  a  plover,  or 
springing  up  they  settled  at  a  safer  distance. 

The  blue-winged  teal  undoubtedly  breeds  spar- 
ingly far  south  on  its  range,  but  most  abundantly 


io2  The  Water-fowl  Family 

on  the  northern  prairies  of  the  United  States  and 
Manitoba,  choosing  the  borders  of  the  sloughs  of 
rush-grass.  Here  the  nest  is  concealed  among  the 
weeds  and  rushes  and  consists  of  an  accumula- 
tion of  grass  lined  with  feathers.  The  duck  covers 
her  eggs  while  away  from  the  nest.  June  is  the 
time  for  incubation.  The  male  now  loses  his  fine 
attire  and  takes  on  a  plain  brown  plumage,  closely 
resembling  that  of  the  duck.  In  late  August 
the  young  are  fledged  and  we  see  the  first  flocks, 
the  mark  of  early  fall. 

CINNAMON    TEAL 

{Querquedula  cyanopterd) 

Adult  male  —  Top  of  head,  blackish;  rest  of  head,  neck,  and  lower 

parts,  bright  chestnut ;  back,  rump,  upper  tail-coverts,  and  tail, 

olive-brown,  feathers  lighter  on  edges  ;  wing-coverts,  pale  blue ; 

tips  of  greater  wing-coverts,  white,  forming  bar  over  a  green 

speculum ;  bill,  black ;  legs  and  feet,  orange ;  webs,  dusky ;  iris, 

orange. 
Measurements  —  Length,   17   inches;    wing,  7.25   inches;    culmen, 

i. 80  inches;  tarsus,  1.25  inches. 
Adult  female  —  Resembles  the  female  blue-winged  teal,  but  more 

reddish  ;  sides  of  head  and  throat,  deep  buff;  back,  olive-brown  ; 

entire  under  parts,  light  brown  ;  breast,  rufous,  with  dusky  spots  ; 

bill,  dusky;  feet,  yellowish. 
Measurements  —  Length,  16.50  inches;  wing,  6.75  inches;  culmen, 

1. 70  inches;  tarsus,  1.25  inches. 
Young  male  —  Resembles  female,  but  speculum  is  more  distinct  and 

under  parts  are  streaked  instead  of  spotted. 
Downy  young — Top  of  head  and  upper  parts,  olive ;  under  parts, 

sides  of  head,  and  a  stripe  over  the  eye,  yellowish  buff;  a  narrow, 

dark  brown  stripe  on  sides  of  head  ;  two  pair  of  buff  spots,  one 

on  sides  of  back,  the  other  on  sides  of  rump. 


Duck-shooting 


103 


Eggs  —  Twelve  to  fourteen  in  number;  color,  ivory-white;  measure 
i. 80  by  1.35  inches. 

Habitat  —  Breeds  in  western  North  America,  north  to  British  Colum- 
bia, Idaho,  Wyoming,  Utah,  and  Colorado,  and  east  to  western 
Kansas,  and  in  western  South  America,  probably  south  to  Chili, 
where  it  is  known  to  breed ;  occurring  also  in  Argentina,  Pata- 
gonia, and  the  Falkland  Islands.  All  winter  south  of  the  United 
States,  excepting  stragglers  in  Louisiana.  Recorded  also  from 
the  West  Indies,  Florida,  New  York,  Texas,  Nebraska,  Illinois, 
Minnesota,  Manitoba,  and  Alberta. 

The  cinnamon  teal  is  hardly  common  in  the 
United  States,  where  it  is  found  chiefly  in  Cali- 
fornia, and  is  known  as  the  red-breasted  teal ;  but 
in  Mexico,  throughout  the  table-lands,  the  bird  is 
abundant.  The  first  arrivals  come  late  in  March, 
and  by  May  they  are  common  on  all  the  lakes 
and  lagoons  of  the  mesa.  March  20,  1901,  while 
looking  for  ducks  along  a  little  creek  near  Laguna, 
I  saw,  just  below  the  edge  of  the  bank,  in  the 
shallow  water,  some  thirty  or  forty  teal,  mostly 
green-winged.  After  watching  them  for  several 
minutes  in  the  seclusion  of  their  pool,  a  hawk 
started  the  flock,  and  as  they  rose,  the  dark  red 
of  one  attracted  my  attention.  It  was  shot.  This 
was  my  first  introduction  to  the  cinnamon  teal, 
and  few  birds  have  given  me  more  pleasure  at 
first  acquaintance.  By  early  May  they  were  com- 
mon wherever  there  was  water,  at  first  associating 
with  the  flocks  of  other  teal.  These,  however, 
soon  left  on  their  journey  north,  and  the  cinna- 
mon teal  was  abandoned  to  the  companionship 


104  Tbe  Water-fowl  Family 

of  gadwall  and  shovellers.  We  often  saw  this  trio 
of  species,  the  teal  frequenting  the  edges  of  the 
ponds,  running  along  the  flats,  sometimes  jump- 
ing up  from  the  grass  near  the  shore.  They  were 
in  pairs,  and  very  tame.  Undoubtedly  these  birds 
came  on  to  the  high  lands  to  breed  at  this  time, 
for  they  are  not  found  here  after  the  early  fall,  in 
September  and  October  resorting  to  the  coasts. 
The  nest  is  placed  near  the  edge  of  the  pond  or 
marsh,  on  the  ground,  and  composed  of  grass, 
lined  with  feathers,  often  concealed  by  more  or 
less  rush-grass  loosely  scattered  over  it. 

RUDDY    SHELDRAKE 
(Casarca  casarca) 

Adult  male  —  Head  and  neck,  buff,  grading  into  orange-brown  on 
the  lower  portion  of  the  neck,  which  is  surrounded  by  a  black 
ring ;  back,  breast,  and  under  parts,  fox-red ;  rump,  yellowish 
red,  streaked  with  black ;  wing-coverts,  white,  with  a  speculum 
of  greenish  purple ;  tail  and  tail-coverts,  black ;  bill,  legs,  and 
feet,  blackish  ;  iris,  brown. 

Measurements  —  Length,  24  inches;  wing,  14.50  inches;  culmen, 
1.75  inches;  tarsus,  2.25  inches. 

Adult  female — Similar  to  the  male ;  plumage  is  generally  lighter  and 
the  color  at  the  base  of  neck  is  lacking. 

Eggs  —  Eight  to  ten  in  number,  cream  color,  measuring  2.55  by  1.85 
inches. 

Habitat  —  Southern  Europe,  northern  Africa,  and  southern  Asia,  east 
to  China  and  Japan,  straggling  occasionally  to  Scandinavia  and 
Iceland,  and  recorded  twice  from  Greenland. 

This   species   has   been    included    among   the 
North  American  birds  on  account  of  the  doubtful 


Duck-sbooting     „  105 

evidence  of  two  Greenland  specimens.  One  of 
these  birds  was  found  by  Dr.  Vanhoffen,  while 
naturalist  of  the  expedition  sent  to  West  Green- 
land in  1892  by  the  Geographical  Society  of 
Berlin,  in  a  small  collection  of  birds'  skins  made 
that  year  in  the  district  of  Upernavik,  and  the 
fact  that  several  were  taken  that  year  in  Iceland 
increases  the  probability  that  this  specimen  was 
collected  in  Greenland. 

In  many  of  its  habits  more  like  a  goose  than  a 
duck,  the  ruddy  sheldrake  associates  with  geese, 
and  has  a  call  note  that  is  gooselike  in  quality. 
It  is  a  shy  bird,  feeding  in  the  ponds  and  marshes 
at  night,  and  spending  the  day  on  open  plains 
where  it  can  guard  against  danger.  It  breeds 
very  early,  seeking  retired  islands  in  lakes  in  Asia 
Minor.  There  it  lays  in  holes  among  the  rocks 
or  sometimes  in  a  burrow  in  the  ground. 

SHOVELLER 

(Spatula  clypeata1) 

Adult  male  —  Head  and  neck,  dark  metallic  green;  dusky  line  on 
hind  neck  from  head  to  back  ;  upper  part  of  back,  breast,  and 
anterior  scapulars,  white  ;  rump,  and  upper  and  under  tail-coverts, 
black  glossed  with  green ;  wing-coverts,  pale  blue ;  speculum, 
metallic  green  ;  tail,  brown  edged  with  white,  a  white  patch  on 
each  side  of  base  of  tail ;  entire  under  parts,  deep  chestnut ;  bill, 
black  ;  iris,  yellow  ;  legs  and  feet,  orange-red. 

Measurements —  Length,  19  inches  ;  wing,  9.50  inches  ;  oilmen,  2.80 
inches  ;  tarsus,  i  .40  inches. 

Adult  female  —  Head,  neck,  and  sides,  buff,  streaked  with  dusky; 
chin  and  throat,  buff;  speculum,  green  ;  back,  brown,  edged  with 


io6  The  Water-fowl  Family 

buff;  under  parts,  buff,  spotted  with  brown  ;  bill,  brown  ;  base  of 
maxilla  and  mandible,  orange  ;  iris,  yellow  ;  legs,  orange. 

Measurements —  Length,  19  inches;  wing,  8. 75  inches;  culmen,  2.50 
inches;  tarsus,  1.20  inches. 

Young  male  —  Resembles  female,  but  coloring  is  deeper ;  under  parts 
darker.  Adult  male  when  moulting  resembles  female. 

Downy  young —  Back  of  neck  and  upper  parts,  olive-brown,  otherwise 
pale  buff;  yellowish  spots  on  each  side  of  back  and  rump;  the 
bill  is  like  that  of  the  other  ducklings,  not  enlarged. 

Eggs  —  Eight  to  twelve  in  number,  greenish  white  in  color,  and 
measure  2.05  by  1.40  inches. 

Habitat  —  Europe,  Asia,  and  northern  portions  of  Africa  in  the  Old 
World.  In  North  America  breeds  from  Ohio,  Indiana,  Illinois, 
Kansas,  Texas,  Colorado,  Arizona,  and  California  and  probably 
Lower  California  and  Mexico,  north  to  the  Bering  Sea  coast  of 
Alaska,  Saskatchewan,  Kenewatin,  and  probably  to  Fort  Ander- 
son, and  east  to  Ontario.  Winters  from  Maryland,  occasionally 
New  Jersey,  possibly  Indiana,  Illinois,  Missouri,  Texas,  Arizona, 
and  British  Columbia,  south  to  the  West  Indies  and  Central 
America;  also  in  Hawaii.  Occasional  in  migrations  on  the 
Atlantic  Coast,  north  to  Nova  Scotia  and  Newfoundland ;  and 
in  Bermuda. 

In  the  United  States  the  shoveller  has  a  wide 
range,  but  is  rare  on  the  Atlantic  Coast.  It  is 
most  abundant  through  the  prairie  states,  south 
into  Texas  and  Mexico.  This  species  undoubtedly 
breeds  along  a  large  part  of  its  range.  It  is  found 
nesting  regularly  in  the  fur  countries,  in  the 
vicinity  of  the  Yukon  River,  Lake  Winnipeg,  and 
the  Barren  Grounds,  and  commonly  in  Montana, 
Dakota,  and  Manitoba.  The  nest  is  close  to  the 
water  on  the  edge  of  a  marsh  or  island,  concealed 
under  grass  or  brush,  and  consists  of  a  mere  de- 
pression, roughly  lined  with  grass.  A  nest  found 


SHOVELLERS  — MALE   AND    FEMALE 


Duck-shooting  107 

by  Mr.  B.  F.  Goss  at  Horicon  Lake,  southern 
Wisconsin,  May  24,  is  described  as  situated 
near  the  highest  part  of  a  small  island,  some  five 
feet  from  the  water  on  bare  ground,  and  in  com- 
pany with  numbers  of  mallards.  The  nest  con- 
tained ten  fresh  eggs.  It  breeds  from  late  May 
to  July,  the  time  corresponding  to  the  locality. 
There  is  a  record  of  a  brood  of  shovellers  hatched 
in  the  garden  of  the  Zoological  Society  in  England 
in  the  summer  of  1841.  After  the  duties  of  incu- 
bation the  bright  plumage  of  the  male  is  shed, 
and  the  bird  assumes  an  attire  like  that  of  the 
female,  but  darker,  not  resuming  his  splendid 
dress  of  winter  until  October.  During  the  latter 
part  of  August  the  shoveller  is  perhaps  the  com- 
monest duck  of  our  Western  states,  frequenting  the 
ponds  and  sloughs  of  the  prairies.  Here  they  are 
found  with  large  numbers  of  other  ducks,  and  are 
the  tamest  and  most  readily  approached  of  all  the 
flocks.  They  feed  on  various  vegetable  and  animal 
substances  which  the  peculiar,  broad  bill  is  specially 
adapted  for  sifting  from  the  water.  The  flesh, 
while  good,  is  not  equal  to  that  of  the  mallard  or 
teal.  When  the  vast  numbers  of  ducks  congregat- 
ing on  the  lake  are  disturbed,  the  shovellers  cross 
the  land  low  down,  and  while  the  flight  is  speedy, 
they  are  readily  killed.  These  birds  come  well  to 
decoys ;  but  as  the  localities  where  they  are  most 
abundant  are  rather  beyond  the  range  of  the  ordi- 


io8  The  Water-fowl  Family 

nary  duck-hunter,  not  many  are  killed  in  this  way. 
Late  fall  and  early  winter  finds  the  shoveller  in  the 
Southwestern  states  and  Mexico,  going  well  into 
the  tropics.  The  male  in  his  adult  plumage  is 
one  of  our  most  beautiful  ducks.  The  combina- 
tion of  light  blue  and  white  of  the  wing,  with  the 
rich  brown  of  the  breast,  is  particularly  striking. 
The  green  head  and  rather  large  appearance  cause 
him  sometimes  at  a  distance  to  be  confused  with 
the  mallard,  but  when  nearer  the  distinction  is 
readily  made.  In  Mexico  the  shoveller,  with  the 
gadwall  and  cinnamon  teal,  stay  latest.  In  April, 
1901,  I  saw  in  a  small  pool  near  one  of  the  ranches 
in  northern  Mexico  a  flock  of  several  hundred 
shovellers,  the  large  majority  of  them  males. 
They  allowed  close  approach  and  continued  to 
preen  their  feathers,  at  times  uttering  a  low  gut- 
tural quack.  The  brilliant  coloring  of  these  birds 
in  the  bright  sunlight  was  a  splendid  sight.  This 
small  pond  was  the  only  water  for  twenty  miles, 
and  the  Mexicans  informed  us  they  arrived  in 
small  relays  in  March,  staying  until  May.  Late 
in  May,  near  Chihuahua,  shovellers  were  numerous. 
At  this  time  they  were  mated.  A  number  of  males, 
shot  then,  showed  evidence  of  a  beginning  of  change 
in  plumage.  The  lagoons  of  the  Gulf  Coast  of 
Mexico  are  the  winter  resort  of  great  numbers  of 
these  birds,  as  well  as  the  bays  of  California  and 
the  Pacific  Coast  of  Mexico.  This  bird  is  common 


Duck-shooting  109 

in  Texas  and  Louisiana,  and  is  found  sparingly  on 
the  Atlantic  Coast  of  the  Southern  states,  but  is 
rare  north  of  North  Carolina  and  a  straggler  in 
New  England.  Two  are  recorded  from  Rye  Beach, 
Massachusetts,  in  August,  1872.  Four  killed  on 
the  sand-bars  just  outside  of  New  Haven  harbor 
in  September,  1886,  were  brought  to  the  writer. 

The  shoveller  is  known  by  a  variety  of  names, 
such  as  spoonbill,  blue-winged  shoveller,  red- 
breasted  shoveller,  spoon-billed  teal,  spoon-billed 
widgeon,  broadbill,  swaddlebill,  mud  shoveller, 
mesquin. 

PINTAIL 

(Dafila  acuta) 

Adult  male — Head  and  upper  neck,  brown,  darkest  on  the  crown  ; 
sides  of  head  with  metallic  purple  reflections ;  upper  part  of 
neck,  black  behind,  lower  part  lighter,  with  faint  white  undula- 
tion ;  a  white  stripe  beginning  at  upper  edge  of  black  portion 
passes  down  sides  of  neck  and  is  continuous  with  the  white  of 
lower  parts ;  back  and  sides  waved  with  fine,  narrow,  white  and 
dusky  lines ;  wing-coverts,  brownish  gray,  the  last  row  tipped 
with  cinnamon,  forming  a  bar  across  the  wing ;  speculum,  bronze, 
with  copper  and  green  reflections,  with  an  outside  black  bar 
and  white  tip;  under  parts,  pure  white;  upper  tail-coverts, 
black,  edged  with  white,  and  lengthened ;  tail  feathers,  pointed, 
dark  brown  on  outer  side,  gray  on  inner ;  the  two  central  feath- 
ers black,  long,  and  pointed,  extending  beyond  the  others; 
under  tail-coverts,  black,  edged  with  white;  iris,  brown;  bill, 
slate,  black  on  tip ;  legs  and  feet,  slate ;  webs,  dusky. 

Measurements  —  Length,  26  inches;  wing,  10.50  inches;  oilmen, 
2.30  inches;  tarsus,  1.60  inches;  tail,  7  inches. 

Adult female  —  Top  of  head,  brown,  streaked  with  black;  rest  of 
head,  buff,  streaked  with  dusky;  upper  parts,  dusky,  crossed 
with  bars  of  buff;  under  parts,  white,  streaked  with  dusky; 


no  The  Water-fowl  Family 

upper  tail-coverts,  spotted  with  black  and  white;  bill,  bluish 
gray,  blackish  on  top  ;  legs  and  feet,  slate  ;  webs,  dusky. 

Measurements —  Length,  21  inches  ;  wing,  9.30  inches  ;  culmen,  1.80 
inches ;  tarsus,  i  .60  inches.  This  bird  is  easily  distinguished 
from  female  ducks  of  other  species  by  its  long,  slender  neck. 

Young  male  —  Similar  to  female,  but  with  speculum  on  wing. 

Downy  young — Top  of  head,  back  of  neck  and  upper  parts,  olive- 
brown  ;  a  dull  white  stripe  on  each  side  of  back,  and  over  eye ; 
a  brown  stripe  through  the  eye  from  bill ;  under  parts,  grayish 
white. 

Eggs  —  Five  to  nine  in  number,  pale  grayish  green  and  measure  2.30 
by  1.55  inches. 

Habitat  —  In  the  Old  World,  Europe,  breeding  south  to  the  Rhone 
Delta,  Asia,  northern  Africa,  China,  and  Japan.  In  North 
America,  breeds  in  New  Brunswick  and  from  Minnesota,  Illi- 
nois, Missouri,  Nebraska,  Montana,  Wyoming,  and  Washington, 
possibly  Arizona  and  California,  north  to  the  Bering  Sea  coast 
of  Alaska,  Kotzebue  Sound,  Point  Barrow,  and  Fort  Anderson, 
and  probably  east  to  Davis  Strait  and  Hudson  Bay.  Winters 
from  Virginia,  rarely  Pennsylvania,  Ohio,  Illinois,  possibly  Wis- 
consin, Kansas,  Arizona,  Nevada,  and  British  Columbia,  south 
to  the  West  Indies  and  Central  America;  also  in  Hawaii. 
Occasional  on  the  Atlantic  Coast  in  migration,  north  to  New- 
foundland and  Labrador,  in  Greenland  and  in  Bermuda. 


With  a  range  as  extensive  as  the  mallard's, 
this  species  is  nowhere  as  common.  We  find  the 
pintail  widely  dispersed  in  the  Old  World,  and 
occurring  throughout  North  America,  inland  and 
on  the  coasts.  The  northern  regions  of  both 
continents  are  their  breeding-grounds.  In  North 
America  through  the  Barren  Grounds  to  the 
Arctic  Sea  and  from  Great  Slave  Lake  to  Alaska, 
this  bird  nests  as  far  south  as  the  northern  border 
of  the  United  States.  Nelson,  observing  the  birds 


Duck-shooting  1 1 1 

breeding  on  the  Yukon,  speaks  of  their  habits 
at  this  time  as  interesting  and  peculiar.  "  The 
duck  rises  to  a  great  height  after  the  manner  of 
a  snipe,  and  setting  the  wings  descends  with  a 
rush,  causing  a  roaring  noise  which  is  heard  at 
considerable  distance."  The  nest  is  placed  on 
low,  dry  ground,  a  short  distance  from  water, 
under  the  shelter  of  bushes.  It  is  a  mere  de- 
pression, lined  with  down  and  feathers.  The 
duck  lays  from  six  to  ten  eggs.  On  the  prairies 
of  Dakota,  Montana,  and  Manitoba  the  pintail 
occupy  the  same  marshes  as  the  mallards  for 
their  nesting,  but  the  birds  do  not  associate. 
The  duck  is  a  close  sitter,  and  loath  to  leave  her 
eggs.  During  early  incubation  the  male  is  some- 
times seen  in  the  vicinity,  but  later  leaves  to 
moult,  and  during  this  period  assumes  a  brown 
plumage  not  unlike  the  female,  but  darker,  distin- 
guishable by  the  tail  feathers  and  the  brighter 
speculum  of  its  wing.  The  young  are  hatched 
early  in  July,  and  able  to  fly  in  September,  when 
fledged  frequenting  the  larger  ponds  in  company 
with  numbers  of  other  ducks.  If  disturbed,  they 
are  among  the  first  birds  to  take  flight,  springing 
into  the  air,  coming  over  the  pass  with  a  speed 
that  makes  them  the  easiest  of  birds  to  miss. 

In  October  we  see  the  first  evidences  of  the 
winter  plumage.  The  males  now  are  in  full 
dress,  with  the  exception  of  their  long  tail 


ii2  The  Water-fowl  Family 

feathers,  which  are  not  yet  fully  grown.  By  the 
last  of  the  month  they  are  scattered  over  their 
fall  haunts,  and  are  seen  in  numbers  throughout 
the  West  and  South. 

In  portions  of  the  West,  where  they  frequent 
the  ponds  and  smaller  lakes,  they  are  much  more 
easily  killed  than  on  larger  bodies  of  water.  The 
pintail  arrive  on  the  coast  of  North  Carolina  late 
in  October,  and  are  found  in  numbers  through  the 
brackish  sounds.  Decoys  attract  them  occasion- 
ally, but  never  in  as  large  numbers  as  the  other 
ducks,  for  they  are  always  wary  and  quick  to 
suspect  danger.  These  birds  can  be  distin- 
guished afar.  The  white  under  parts  of  the  male 
and  their  long  necks  mark  them  at  once.  The 
flight  is  high  in  lines  abreast,  but  almost  before 
the  flock  is  seen  they  are  by  and  out  of  sight. 
When  about  to  decoy  no  bird  is  more  graceful ; 
they  often  drop  from  a  height  far  out  of  range 
and  circle  about  the  stool,  watching  carefully  for 
the  slightest  motion ;  finally  they  swing  within 
range  and  plunge  among  the  wooden  ducks. 
After  realizing  the  mistake,  they  spring  up  all 
together,  and  are  out  of  shot  almost  before  you 
realize  the  chance  is  gone. 

On  the  water,  pintail  maintain  the  same  grace 
they  show  in  flight,  carrying  themselves  with  all 
the  ease  of  a  swan.  Many  of  the  flocks  winter 
much  farther  south  than  North  Carolina,  and 


Duck-shooting  1 1 3 

arrive  in  the  spring  on  the  journey  north  in  large 
numbers.  The  birds  are  seen  at  this  time  pass- 
ing high  over  the  marshes,  where  they  feed  at 
night,  often  with  the  black  duck  and  mallard, 
leaving  early  in  the  morning.  The  flight  is  like 
the  widgeons',  but  quieter,  their  whistling  not 
as  noticeable.  They  have  the  same  habit  of 
alarming  other  ducks,  and  spoil  many  chances 
for  the  hunter.  The  pintail  resort  to  large  open 
bodies  of  water,  especially  when  much  disturbed 
by  hunting;  but  they  are  surface  feeders  and  do 
not  dive  for  food;  grasses  and  various  vegetable 
matter  growing  in  the  shallow  water  form  the 
diet.  The  flesh  is  excellent,  and  the  bird  is 
highly  esteemed  for  the  table.  When  wounded, 
they  will  dive  to  effect  escape,  but  prefer  to  skulk 
and  hide.  On  the  New  England  coast  the  pin- 
tail is  rare,  nor  is  it  common  on  Long  Island. 
Only  a  few  instances  of  its  occurrence  in  Con- 
necticut are  known  to  the  writer,  and  these  were 
birds  killed  at  dusk  with  black  duck. 

This  species  is  known  by  a  variety  of  names, 
sprigtail,  spiketail,  spindletail,  spreetail,  pigeon- 
tail,  and  smee. 

WOOD  DUCK 

(Aix  sponsa) 

Adult  male  —  Head  with  a  crest  reaching  well  down  to  the  back,  of 
green  and  violet  metallic  hues ;  a  narrow  white  line  at  the  angle 
of  the  maxilla  passes  over  its  edge  and  reaches  to  the  end  of  the 


ii4  The  Water-fowl  Family 

crest ;  another  white  line  beginning  below  and  behind  the  eye 
extends  along  the  lower  end  of  crest ;  cheeks  and  sides  of  neck, 
violet-black ;  crest,  silky  in  texture  of  metallic  greens  and 
purples  ;  throat  and  front  of  neck,  pure  white  ;  back,  dark  brown 
glossed  with  green ;  lower  back  and  rump  darker,  grading  into 
black  on  upper  tail-coverts ;  wing-coverts,  steel-blue  with  black 
tips;  scapulars,  black  with  metallic  reflections;  the  longer 
tertials  tipped  with  a  white  bar;  lower  portion  of  throat  and 
breast  extending  well  on  to  the  sides,  chestnut,  mottled  in  front 
with  white ;  on  the  sides  of  the  breast,  above  shoulder,  is  a 
broad  black  bar  over  which  is  another  of  white ;  sides  and 
flanks,  buff  crossed  by  fine  wavy  black  lines ;  feathers  of  the 
upper  borders  having  at  their  ends  two  bars  of  black  enclosing 
a  white  one  ;  lower  breast,  pure  white  ;  on  each  side  of  rump  is 
a  patch  of  dark  purple  ;  under  tail-coverts,  dark  greenish  brown  ; 
tail,  black,  with  metallic  reflections ;  bill,  purple,  red  behind  the 
nostrils  with  a  black  spot  on  the  culmen  ;  nail,  black  ;  an  oblong 
spot  of  white  from  nostril  to  nail ;  basal  outline,  yellow ;  legs 
and  feet,  brownish  yellow  with  dark  webs ;  eyelids,  vermilion ; 
iris,  red,  sometimes  reddish  brown. 

Measurements  —  Length,  19  inches;  wing,  9.30  inches;  tail,  4.70 
inches;  tarsus,  1.50  inches;  culmen,  1.40  inches. 

Adult  female  —  Head,  gray ;  crest  shorter  and  smaller  than  drake's  ; 
back  and  rump  and  upper  tail-coverts,  brown,  glossed  with 
bronze ;  wings  similar  to  male's  but  with  wider  band  of  white ; 
breast,  reddish  brown  ;  under  parts,  white  ;  flanks,  brown  spotted 
with  white ;  bill,  dark  lead  color  with  a  black  nail ;  legs  and 
feet,  yellowish  brown  ;  eyelids,  yellow  ;  iris,  brown. 

Measurements  —  Length,  17  inches  ;  wing,  8.30  inches  ;  tarsus,  1.30 
inches;  culmen,  1.30  inches. 

Downy  young — Head  and  upper  parts,  dark  brown;  sides  of  the 
head,  with  a  stripe  over  the  eye,  buff;  dull  white  spots  on  the 
shoulder  and  on  each  side  of  the  rump. 

Eggs  —  Eight  to  fourteen  in  number,  ivory-white  when  unsoiled,  and 
measure  2.10  inches  in  length  by  1.50  in  breadth. 

Habitat  —  Breeds  from  Florida  and  the  Gulf  states,  Colorado, 
Nevada,  and  California,  north  to  Nova  Scotia,  New  Brunswick, 
possibly  Labrador,  Hudson  Bay,  Manitoba,  Saskatchewan,  and 
British  Columbia.  Winters  chiefly  in  the  United  States,  from 


Duck-shooting  1 1 5 

New  Jersey,  Pennsylvania,  Indiana,  Illinois,  Missouri,  and  Texas, 
south  to  the  West  Indies  and  Mexico,  and  in  Oregon  and 
California.  Accidental  in  Europe  and  Bermuda. 

Any  hunter  could  well  repent  his  ruthlessness 
as  he  holds  in  his  hand  the  dead  wood-drake, 
and  wish  him  alive  and  back  again,  a  beautiful 
ornament  to  woodland  waters.  The  stream,  where 
it  broadens  into  quiet  water,  well  protected  by  a 
thick  growth  of  alders,  or  some  old  mill-pond 
back  in  the  woods,  long  since  deserted,  will  miss 
him.  Here  he  spent  the  late  spring  and  early 
summer  with  his  mate,  and  saw  the  young  brood 
fledged.  In  October  he  brought  them  to  the  spot 
where  young  oaks  line  the  water's  edge  and  hide 
the  swamp,  affording  their  favorite  food,  acorns. 
And  now  with  October  foliage  at  its  height,  when 
cold  nights  warned  him  to  push  farther  south  and 
take  his  charge,  he  falls,  his  splendid  plumage 
blood-stained.  No  bird  less  deserved  the  fate. 

Wood  duck  are  found  in  the  woodland  dis- 
tricts of  the  United  States  and  Canada,  north  to 
the  5oth  parallel.  They  arrive  in  New  England 
and  the  northern  United  States  early  in  May, 
and  frequent  the  secluded  streams  and  lakes.  At 
first  in  flocks  of  several,  they  soon  separate  and 
each  pair  seeks  a  nesting-place.  This  is  generally 
the  hollow  of  a  tree  or  broken  stump,  rarely  a 
deserted  crow's  nest.  The  aperture  is  thirty  or 
forty  feet  from  the  ground  and  surprisingly  small 


n6  The  Water-fowl  Family 

for  the  size  of  the  bird,  the  eggs  being  some- 
times three  or  four  feet  from  the  opening.  The 
bird  flies  through  the  woods  and  lights  on  the 
tree  with  all  the  speed  and  grace  of  a  wild  dove. 

Wilson  describes  a  nest  of  the  summer  duck 
found  on  the  Tuckahoe  River,  New  Jersey,  May  18: 
"  The  tree  was  twenty  yards  from  water  on  a 
declivity ;  in  its  hollow  and  broken  top  about  six 
feet  down,  lying  on  soft  decayed  wood,  were  thir- 
teen eggs,  covered  with  down.  This  tree  had 
been  repeatedly  occupied." 

In  an  instance  the  writer  has  noticed,  a  pair  of 
wood  duck  for  years  built  in  a  broken  branch  of 
an  elm,  standing  on  the  edge  of  a  mill-pond  in  a 
small  New  England  town.  When  the  young 
were  hatched  the  brood  regularly  disappeared, 
the  birds  trusting  the  locality  for  nesting  purposes, 
but  not  for  rearing  their  young. 

Professor  Kumlien  describes  a  nest  found  in 
Wisconsin,  in  a  high  burr  oak,  in  a  thicket  three- 
quarters  of  a  mile  from  water. 

The  young  are  carried  to  the  ground  by  the 
old  bird  in  her  bill.  The  little  brood  frequent 
some  wild  spot  where  foliage  hides  them,  or  a 
secluded  pool  along  a  stream.  They  feed  on 
insects,  water  larvae,  or  tender  buds.  The  mother's 
note  is  low  and  prolonged,  resembling  the  sylla- 
bles whee-whee,  and  the  young  answer  with  a 
soft  peep.  The  brood  fly  in  September,  and  in 


Duck-shooting  i  i  7 

the  fall  we  look  for  them  in  spots  where  acorns 
drop  into  the  water.  On  this  food  they  quickly 
fatten,  and  the  bird  in  some  localities  goes  by  the 
name  of  acorn  duck.  With  the  first  threatenings 
of  winter  they  pass  on  toward  the  south  and  we 
find  them  in  our  Gulf  states,  frequenting  the 
ponds  and  rivers. 

This  bird  is  also  known  as  the  summer  duck, 
bridal  duck,  wood  widgeon,  and  branchier  in 
Louisiana. 

Gentle  and  readily  domesticated,  the  wood 
duck  deserves  all  possible  protection ;  but  the 
excellence  of  its  flesh  and  demand  for  its  feath- 
ers expose  it  to  a  relentless  persecution,  and  this 
species  is  rapidly  decreasing. 


CHAPTER    III 

DUCK-SHOOTING    (CONTINUED} 

THE  SEA-DUCKS 

(Fidigulince) 

NEARLY  allied  to  the  river-ducks  in  most  points, 
a  sea-duck  can  be  distinguished  always  by  the 
membranous  lobe  on  the  hind  toe.  Their  feet 
and  palmations  are  also  larger,  and  their  legs 
set  farther  back  on  the  body,  with  the  result  that 
their  walk  is  even  more  of  a  waddle.  In  many 
of  their  habits  they  closely  resemble  the  river- 
ducks,  but  they  are  fond  of  deep  water  at  all 
seasons  of  the  year,  and  sometimes  occur  in  flocks 
containing  thousands  of  individuals.  Except  in 
the  breeding  season,  few  of  them  frequent  fresh 
water  to  any  extent,  but  gather  in  large  beds  off 
the  coasts,  flying  into  some  bay  in  the  morning  to 
feed,  and  retiring  far  from  shore  at  night.  They 
are  expert  divers,  often  obtaining  their  food  at  great 
depth,  sometimes  seeking  the  bottom  even  in  one 
hundred  and  fifty  feet  of  water.  Their  bodies, 
however,  are  so  heavy  relatively  to  their  wings, 
that  most  of  them  cannot  rise  from  the  water 

118 


Duck-shooting  119 

except  against  the  wind,  and  after  they  have 
started,  the  flight  is  usually  not  so  graceful  as  that 
of  the  river-duck.  They  feed  chiefly  on  shellfish 
and  Crustacea,  and  their  flesh  is  rank  and  fishy ; 
but  some,  as  the  red-head,  canvas-back  and  ruddy 
duck,  live  on  vegetable  substances,  and  are  highly 
valued  by  epicures. 

Though  distributed  throughout  the  world,  the 
majority  of  the  forty  or  more  species  in  the 
family  inhabit  the  northern  hemisphere,  breeding 
far  to  the  north.  Some  species  lay  their  eggs  in 
large  colonies  on  retired  islands  on  the  northern 
coasts,  the  males  collecting  in  enormous  flocks 
and  living  on  the  ocean  some  distance  from  the 
land,  while  the  females  assume  all  the  responsi- 
bilities of  incubation  and  raise  the  young.  The 
nests  are  on  the  ground,  often  under  bushes, 
and  consist  of  a  few  twigs,  grass,  and  leaves, 
mixed  with  the  down  of  the  parent.  This  down 
in  the  eider  is  so  abundant  that  it  has  become  an 
article  of  commerce,  and  on  the  coasts  of  Green- 
land, Iceland,  and  Norway  the  breeding  colonies 
are  visited  regularly  by  the  inhabitants,  and  the 
nests  and  many  of  the  eggs  collected.  An  aver- 
age nest  will  weigh  about  an  ounce  and  a  third, 
and  from  Greenland  and  Iceland  nearly  six  thou- 
sand pounds  of  down  are  exported  annually. 
These  birds  are  carefully  protected,  and  become 
so  tame  that  they  sometimes  breed  in  the  houses 


120  The  Water-fowl  Family 

of  the  inhabitants,  and  will  allow  themselves  to 
be  lifted  from  their  eggs  without  a  struggle. 

The  sea-ducks  are  very  hardy  birds,  some  of 
them  spending  the  winter  on  the  ocean,  not  very 
far  from  the  Arctic  circle,  cold  apparently  not 
troubling  them  in  the  least,  as  long  as  food  is 
abundant  and  water  sufficient  for  their  needs 
remains  unfrozen.  The  sexes  differ  in  plumage, 
that  of  the  male  being  often  very  handsome.  A 
metallic  speculum  on  the  wing  is  rare.  In  many 
species  the  males  assume  in  summer  a  dull  plu- 
mage resembling  the  female,  as  do  the  river-ducks, 
this  plumage  persisting  for  only  a  few  weeks. 
There  is  wide  variation  between  the  different 
members  of  this  family.  While  the  scoters  are 
black  and  white  with  brightly  colored  bills,  the 
males  and  females  differing  little,  the  eiders,  with 
strangely  shaped  bills,  are  black  and  white  in  the 
male,  and  brown  in  the  female.  Both  of  these 
groups  are  large  and  clumsy.  Contrasting  with 
them  we  find  the  small  and  graceful  old  squaw, 
with  its  long  central  tail  feathers,  and  the  little 
ruddy  duck,  its  tail  feathers  long  and  stiff,  and 
the  male  colored  bright  red.  The  Labrador 
duck,  which  occurred  formerly  on  the  coasts  of 
New  England  and  the  Middle  states,  was  a  near 
relative  of  the  eiders. 

A  strange  species  of  sea-duck  living  in  South 
America  is  known  as  the  steamer-duck,  because 


Duck-shooting  1 2 1 

its  movements  when  swimming  are  said  to  resem- 
ble those  of  a  side-wheel  steamer.  Young  birds 
of  this  species  can  fly,  but  as  they  grow  older 
they  lose  this  power,  and  content  themselves  with 
diving  and  swimming.  Australia  possesses,  as 
might  be  expected,  a  very  peculiar  sea-duck.  In 
this  species  both  sexes  are  brownish  black  in  color, 
but  the  male  is  nearly  twice  the  size  of  the  female, 
and  has  a  large  wattle  under  the  chin.  It  flies 
rarely,  but  is  a  wonderful  diver,  staying  under 
water  a  remarkably  long  time.  The  male  in  the 
breeding  season  gives  out  a  strong  odor  of  musk. 

RUFOUS-CRESTED    DUCK 
(Netta  rufind) 

Adult  male  —  Head  and  upper  neck,  vinaceous  rufous,  the  soft  and 
bushy  crest,  paler ;  stripe  on  hind  neck,  rump,  upper  tail-coverts 
and  lower  parts,  brownish  black ;  back  and  scapulars,  grayish 
brown ;  speculum,  outer  portion  of  scapulars,  anterior  border 
and  under  side  of  wing,  axillars  and  broad  space  on  flanks, 
white ;  primaries,  whitish,  the  tips  of  all  and  outer  webs  of  first 
five,  grayish  brown ;  tail,  grayish  brown  ;  bill,  bright  vermilion- 
red,  tipped  with  white  ;  irides,  reddish  brown ;  legs,  orange-red. 

Measurements — Length,  21  inches;  wing,  10.25  inches;  tail,  4 
inches;  culmen,  2  inches;  tarsus,  1.50  inches. 

Adult  female — Crest  smaller  than  adult  male;  top  of  head  and 
stripe  on  hind  neck,  hair  brown ;  rest  of  upper  parts,  grayish 
brown,  darker  on  rump  and  upper  tail-coverts ;  white  scapular 
patch  wanting,  and  white  border  to  wings  indistinct ;  speculum, 
pale  ashy,  darker  terminally  and  tipped  with  white ;  sides  of 
head,  neck,  and  abdomen,  pale  ashy  ;  rest  of  lower  parts,  brown- 
ish white,  becoming  white  on  under  tail-coverts  ;  primaries,  like 
male  but  slightly  darker ;  bill,  blackish  tipped  with  pink ;  irides, 
hazel ;  legs,  pinkish ;  palmations,  blackish. 


122  Tbe  Water-fowl  Family 

Measurements  —  Length,  20  inches;  wing,  10  inches;  tail,  3.75 
inches;  culmen,  1.90  inches;  tarsus,  1.50  inches. 

Young  male  —  Similar  to  adult  female,  but  crest  smaller  and  more 
reddish  ;  the  border  of  wing  distinctly  white,  and  white  scapular 
patch  plainly  indicated. 

Downy  young — Upper  parts,  dull  olive-gray;  lower  parts  and 
scapular  spots,  pale  yellowish  gray  ;  yellowish  gray  superciliary 
stripe ;  olive-gray  stripes  on  lores,  one  passing  above  supercili- 
ary stripe  and  the  other  below  eye  to  auriculars. 

Eggs  —  Eight  to  ten,  pea-green,  measuring  2.20  by  1.70  inches. 

Habitat — Eastern  hemisphere,  from  the  Mediterranean  basin  to 
Turkestan  and  India,  breeding  irregularly  north  to  Scotland,  the 
Kola  Peninsula,  and  on  the  Yenisei  River,  Siberia,  to  within  the 
Arctic  circle.  Accidental  in  eastern  United  States. 

The  only  claim  of  this  species  to  rank  as  an 
American  bird  is  that  on  February  2,  1872,  Mr. 
George  A.  Boardman  found  a  young  male  in  Ful- 
ton Market,  New  York,  and  this  bird  is  believed 
to  have  been  shot  on  Long  Island  Sound. 

It  is  a  rather  shy  and  solitary  bird,  not  found 
in  large  flocks  or  associating  much  with  other 
ducks.  Not  being  an  expert  at  diving  it  fre- 
quents shallow,  fresh-water  marshes,  feeding  on 
water-plants  of  various  kinds.  It  breeds  on  small 
islands  in  the  Rhone  Delta  of  southern  France, 
where  Mr.  W.  Eagle  Clarke  found  two  nests  on 
May  17,  1894.  They  were  on  the  ground  in 
the  centre  of  thick  and  tangled  masses  of  shrub- 
bery, and  were  reached  by  covered  passages  fully 
two  feet  long,  which  had  been  worked  through 
the  bottom  of  the  bushes.  These  nests,  com- 
posed of  down,  held  ten  and  seventeen  eggs ;  but 


Duck-shooting 


123 


the  latter  were  doubtless  laid  by  two  females,  as 
they  differed  in  size  and  color.  The  males  were 
swimming  near  these  islands  and  impressed  Mr. 
Clarke  with  their  great  beauty,  their  crests  look- 
ing as  if  "  fringed  with  gold." 


RED-HEAD 

(Aythya  americana) 

Adult  male  —  Head  and  neck,  rich  reddish  brown,  glossed  with 
purple  ;  lower  neck,  chest,  upper  parts  of  back,  rump,  and  upper 
and  lower  tail-coverts,  black;  remainder  of  back,  sides,  and 
flanks,  grayish  white,  finely  undulated  with  black ;  wing-coverts, 
gray;  speculum,  ash-gray,  bordered  above  with  black,  and 
posteriorly  with  white ;  tail,  dark  brown ;  under  parts  white, 
growing  gray  toward  under  tail-coverts ;  bill,  broad  and  flat, 
rising  at  the  base  abruptly  to  the  forehead;  slate  in  color 
and  crossed  by  a  black  bar  near  the  tip ;  iris,  orange ;  legs  and 
feet,  plumbous  ;  webs,  dusky. 

Measurements  —  Length,  19.50  inches  ;  wing,  9  inches  ;  oilmen,  2. 10 
inches;  tarsus,  1.40  inches;  bill  .80  inch  in  width. 

Plumage  of  male  in  post-nuptial  dress  similar  to  female. 

Adidt  female  —  Head  and  neck,  pale  brown,  darkest  on  top ;  chin 
and  throat,  white ;  cheeks,  grayish  brown ;  back  and  scapulars 
of  the  same  color ;  feathers  tipped  with  light  gray  ;  wing-coverts, 
light  gray ;  speculum,  ash-gray ;  lower  back,  dark  brown ;  chest 
and  sides,  gray-brown  ;  feathers  of  abdomen  broadly  edged  with 
whitish  ;  bill,  slate  with  a  black  nail ;  legs  and  feet,  slate ;  webs, 
dusky. 

Measurements  —  Length,  19  inches;  wing,  9  inches;  culmen,  2 
inches  ;  tarsus,  i  .35  inches. 

Downy  young — Top  of  head  and  upper  parts,  olive  with  a  yellow 
spot  on  the  sides  of  body  and  rump  and  on  the  borders  of 
wings  ;  sides  of  head,  neck,  and  lower  parts,  buff. 

Eggs  —  Eight  to  twenty  in  number,  grayish  white,  and  measure  2.40 
by  1.70  inches. 


124  The  Water-fowl  Family 

Habitat  —  Breeds  from  Michigan,  possibly  Indiana,  Minnesota, 
Nebraska,  Missouri,  possibly  Colorado,  Utah,  Nevada,  and 
California,  and  reported  as  breeding  in  Maine,  north  to  the  fur 
countries  west  of  Hudson  Bay,  Saskatchewan,  Alberta,  and 
British  Columbia.  Winters  from  Maryland,  rarely  north  to 
Massachusetts,  Mississippi,  Louisiana,  Texas,  Wyoming,  Arizona, 
Nevada,  and  British  Columbia,  south  to  the  West  Indies,  Mexico, 
and  Lower  California.  In  the  migrations,  found  occasionally  on 
the  Atlantic,  north  to  the  coast  of  Labrador. 

The  red-head  is  an  associate  of  the  canvas-back 
in  many  localities  and  a  close  second  in  popular- 
ity. The  same  persecution  along  the  eastern 
coast  has  decimated  the  flocks  and  driven  the 
birds  away,  yet  small  numbers  are  still  seen  in 
their  old  haunts,  while  the  canvas-back  are  prac- 
tically gone. 

The  lakes  and  watercourses  of  our  Western 
states  were  the  former  resorts  of  countless  myr- 
iads of  these  birds,  and  even  now  in  Minnesota, 
Dakota,  and  Montana  the  red-head  is  still  abun- 
dant, breeding  in  the  prairie  sloughs,  and  north 
into  Manitoba  on  the  shores  and  islands  of  wild 
marshy  lakes.  Here  red-heads  breed  in  colonies 
by  themselves  or  in  the  company  of  mallards. 
The  nest  is  somewhat  elevated,  constructed  of 
grass  and  loose  material,  carefully  canopied  over, 
frequently  built  up  from  the  bottom  in  shallow 
water  among  clumps  of  rushes.  The  eggs  are 
eight  to  twenty  in  number,  and  with  them  are  occa- 
sionally seen  those  of  the  ruddy  duck.  Incuba- 
tion is  begun  in  early  June,  and  the  duck  is  left 


Duck-shooting  1 2  5 

in  charge  alone,  her  mate  disappearing  to  moult 
and  change  his  dress,  going  into  a  brown  plumage 
for  the  summer.  The  marshes  of  central  North 
America  through  the  fur  countries  afford  breed- 
ing-grounds for  numbers  of  red-head.  The  young 
are  fledged  in  late  August,  and  many  are  killed 
near  their  nesting-places,  as  they  are  not  wild  and 
are  readily  approached.  In  North  Dakota  a  hunter 
can  easily  tire  of  shooting,  but  destruction  of  this 
sort  now  is  fortunately  prevented  by  well-enforced 
game  laws.  If  other  Western  states  protected 
their  wild  fowl  against  the  ravages  of  the  pot- 
hunter and  the  wanton  sportsman  in  the  same 
efficient  way,  much  would  be  accomplished  in 
preserving  our  wild  duck. 

In  the  fall  of  1894,  near  Sanborn,  North  Dakota, 
warm  weather  had  persisted  until  late  September, 
when  the  first  frost  came.  A  few  days  later,  about 
October  i,  I  noticed  the  first  flocks  of  flight  red- 
head. These  passed  over  high  up,  for  the  most 
part  far  out  of  range.  The  few  we  killed  were  all 
old  males  with  well-marked  traces  of  the  summer 
plumage.  This  was  most  apparent  in  the  brown 
feathers  of  the  head  and  breast.  By  the  middle 
of  October  they  appear  on  the  marshes  of  the 
West,  and  are  common  from  the  Great  Lake  states 
to  the  Rocky  Mountains,  and  along  the  Missouri 
and  Mississippi  valleys  to  the  states  bordering  on 
the  Gulf  of  Mexico, 


i26  The  Heater-fowl  Family 

Numbers  remain  in  Illinois,  Iowa,  and  Missouri 
until  driven  farther  south  by  cold  weather.  In 
November  and  December  they  are  found  in  Texas 
and  in  the  bays  and  lagoons  along  the  Mexican 
coast.  The  red-head  is  numerous  in  California 
and  Colorado ;  abundant  in  the  valley  of  the  Salt 
Lake,  passing  into  Mexico,  where  it  winters  on 
the  interior  lakes  and  along  the  Pacific  Coast. 
These  birds  reach  the  Chesapeake  early  in  Novem- 
ber, crossing  the  interior  and  not  following  to  any 
extent  the  Atlantic  coast-line.  They  winter  off 
the  coast  of  North  Carolina,  remaining  until 
March,  some  passing  as  far  south  as  Florida  and 
the  Bahamas.  On  the  Chesapeake  they  feed  on  the 
vallisneria,  and  under  these  circumstances  the 
flesh  equals  that  of  the  canvas-back.  The  red- 
head has  many  of  the  habits  of  the  canvas-back, 
and  is  killed  in  the  same  way,  —  from  blinds  on 
the  points  along  the  line  of  flight,  batteries  off- 
shore, or  brush  blinds  staked  out  in  shallow  bays  on 
their  feeding-grounds.  In  Currituck  and  Pamlico 
sounds  the  regular  method  of  shooting  is  from 
batteries  and  brush  blinds.  The  brush  is  set  out 
and  left  unused  for  some  time  until  the  birds 
become  accustomed ;  then,  when  the  opportunity 
offers,  at  the  first  streak  of  dawn  the  skiff  is 
pushed  out  of  sight  in  the  brush  tops,  well  sur- 
rounded by  stool.  The  first  small  flocks  of  six 
or  eight  soon  appear,  usually  taking  some  certain 


Duck-sbooting 


127 


course.  Once  within  sight  of  the  decoys,  one  or 
two  ducks  turn  in  on  set  wings;  another  instant 
and  the  flock  hover  in  front.  When  startled, 
they  often  spring  together,  and  the  gunner  of  ex- 
perience waits  for  this  chance.  Red-head  come 
to  decoys  with  a  grace  few  ducks  possess,  if  only 
they  decide  to  come ;  but  many  times  in  full  sight 
of  the  stool  they  turn  neither  to  right  nor  left, 
keeping  the  same  aggravating  course,  just  out  of 
range. 

These  birds  hail  to  a  red  flag  almost  as  well  as 
the  broadbill,  but  at  the  present  time  of  more 
gunners  than  ducks,  tolling  is  seldom  used. 

On  Long  Island  the  red-head  is  found  in  small 
flocks.  The  eastern  end  of  Great  South  Bay  and 
of  Shinnecock  Bay  for  the  past  two  years  have 
been  the  resort  of  these  birds.  North  of  Long 
Island,  along  the  coast,  this  species  is  rare.  In 
Connecticut  the  red-head  I  have  seen  have  usually 
been  in  flocks  of  the  large  broadbill,  and  several 
birds  in  my  possession  were  shot  under  these  cir- 
cumstances. In  March,  1900,  five  red-head  were 
killed  on  Lake  Saltonstall,  near  New  Haven.  In 
the  spring  of  the  year  these  birds  are  killed  in 
large  numbers  in  certain  places  along  the  Missis- 
sippi and  its  tributaries,  when  the  woods  are 
flooded.  The  red-head  is  a  high,  fast  flyer,  a 
gentle  whistling  marking  the  flight.  Occasionally 
a  low  quack  is  heard,  but  generally  the  bird  is 


128  The  Water-fowl  Family 

silent.  They  dive  and  skulk  with  a  skill  that 
saves  many  a  wounded  bird.  The  similarity  in 
size  and  marking  of  the  red-head  to  the  canvas- 
back  has  made  it  possible  to  substitute  it  for 
the  latter.  The  bill  always  distinguishes  the  birds, 
being  broad  and  flat  in  the  red-head  and  long  and 
thin  in  the  canvas-back. 

This  species  is  also  known  as  the  raft-duck  and 
pochard. 

CANVAS-BACK 
{Aythya  iiallisneria) 

Adult  male  —  Top  of  head  and  feathers  at  the  base  of  bill,  black ; 
rest  of  head  and  neck,  brownish  red ;  upper  part  of  back,  chest, 
and  upper  and  under  tail-coverts,  black ;  wing-coverts,  gray,  ver- 
miculated  with  white ;  speculum,  gray ;  tips  vermiculated  with 
white,  and  inner  feathers  edged  externally  with  black ;  rest  of 
plumage,  white,  finely  undulated  on  the  back  with  black ;  bill, 
narrow,  widening  slightly  toward  the  end  and  longer  than  the 
head,  black  in  color;  tail,  black;  iris,  red;  legs  and  feet,  slate. 

Measurements  —  Length,  20  inches  ;  wing,  9.10  inches ;  culmen,  2.40 
inches;  tarsus,  1.70  inches. 

Adult  female  —  Head,  neck,  and  upper  part  of  back,  brown,  rest  of 
back,  darker ;  tips  of  the  feathers  undulated  with  white ;  under 
parts,  white ;  speculum,  gray  tipped  with  white,  inner  feathers 
edged  with  black  on  outer  web  ;  tail,  dark  brown ;  iris,  brown ; 
bill,  black ;  legs  and  feet,  slate. 

Measurements  —  Length,  20  inches;  wing,  9  inches;  culmen,  2.25 
inches  ;  tarsus,  1.50  inches. 

Downy  young—  Upper  parts,  brown,  with  buff  spots  on  sides  of  chest, 
lower  back,  and  rump ;  space  around  eye,  sides  of  head  and  neck, 
and  lower  parts,  bufty  white. 

Eggs  —  Six  to  ten  in  number ;  pale  gray  green  in  color,  and  measure 
2.50  by  i. 80  inches. 

Habitat  —  Breeds  from  Minnesota,  Nebraska,  Colorado,  Nevada, 
Oregon,  and  British  Columbia,  north  to  Fort  Anderson  and  Fort 


Duck-shooting  1 2  9 

Yukon.  Winters  in  Maryland,  Virginia,  and  North  Carolina,  for- 
merly abundantly,  now  rarely ;  occasionally  south  to  Florida  and 
straggling  to  the  West  Indies ;  and  from  western  New  York 
rarely,  Pennsylvania,  Kentucky,  Illinois,  Colorado,  Arizona,  and 
British  Columbia,  south  to  California,  Mexico,  Central  America, 
and  the  Gulf  Coast.  In  the  migrations  occurs  on  the  Atlantic 
Coast  rarely,  north  to  New  Brunswick  and  Nova  Scotia,  and  in 
Bermuda. 


The  story  of  this  duck  on  our  eastern  coast  is 
one  of  days  that  are  past.  In  the  halcyon  times 
when  Chesapeake  Bay  and  the  canvas-back  duck 
were  words -inseparable,  the  winter  home  was  here. 
The  large  flocks  arrived  about  the  middle  of  No- 
vember, tired  and  thin  from  their  long  flight;  they 
gathered  on  the  bars  offshore,  rising  only  when 
disturbed,  feeding  on  the  beds  of  tape-grass  or 
vallisneria  (not  the  wild  celery,  as  popularly  sup- 
posed). On  this  diet  the  flesh  attained  its  highest 
degree  of  excellence.  In  December  the  birds  had 
fattened  and  become  more  active,  pass-ing  up  and 
down  the  bay  to  and  from  their  feeding-grounds 
in  morning  and  evening  flights,  keeping  well  off- 
shore in  fair  weather,  leading  over  the  points 
when  driven  by  wind  or  storm.  The  more  famous 
locations  were  the  Narrows,  Taylor's  and  Abbey 
islands  on  the  western  shore,  Miller's  Island,  and 
Carroll's  Island.  When  driven  from  the  bay  by 
constant  shooting,  they  resorted  to  the  larger 
rivers.  Blinds  and  decoys  in  all  possible  loca- 
tions, batteries  and  sink-boxes  offshore,  awaited 


130  The  Water-fowl  Family 

them.  They  were  drifted  on  when  gathered  on 
their  feeding-grounds.  At  night  bedded  on  the 
resting-places,  the  rafts  of  ducks  were  shot  into 
by  means  of  large-bore  guns  or  cannon  as  they 
huddled  together  in  front  of  the  gunner's  light. 
Occasionally  they  were  taken  in  gill  nets  offshore. 
Eagerly  sought  for  and  greedily  hunted,  killed  by 
every  device  known  to  man,  this  bird,  the  noblest 
of  all  our  water-fowl,  has  been  driven  from  its  old 
haunts;  and  the  Chesapeake  Bay  knows  it  no 
more. 

The  few  flocks  occasionally  seen  in  the  vicinity 
now  bear  sad  testimony  of  the  wanton  destruction 
of .  the  past.  Farther  south,  along  the  coast, 
canvas-back  still  winter  in  some  numbers,  but 
are  seldom  killed  in  any  quantity,  and  then  only 
in  heavy  weather,  or  when  ice  holes  afford  a 
limited  feeding-ground.  A  few  are  found  on  the 
James  River.  In  1893,  when  scarcely  a  canvas- 
back  was  killed  on  the  Chesapeake,  there  were 
large  flocks  on  the  James.  They  often  bedded 
in  the  coves  across  the  river  from  Westover,  in 
fair  weather  keeping  well  out  in  the  centre,  flying 
up  and  down  morning  and  evening.  In  a  heavy 
snowstorm  on  Christmas  day  we  shot  them  from 
brush  blinds  on  the  south  shore.  There  are  few 
more  stirring  sights  than  flocks  of  canvas-back 
leading  up  within  range  of  the  blind,  flying  in 
wedge-shaped  lines  high  in  air;  as  they  come 


Duck-shooting  131 

nearer,  the  white  back  and  red  neck  mark  them. 
They  see  the  stool,  and  the  flock  wheels ;  two  or 
three  leaders  turn  toward  the  decoys,  and  the 
others  follow.  When  alarmed,  they  rise  high  up, 
and  their  powerful  flight  soon  takes  them  beyond 
danger.  If  wounded,  the  bird  is  quick  to  dive, 
and  swims  a  long  distance  under  water,  showing 
the  top  of  the  head  or  bill,  and  then  only  for  an 
instant. 

In  Currituck  and  Pamlico  sounds  the  canvas- 
back  are  rarely  shot  from  the  points  of  marsh,  but 
almost  entirely  from  batteries  and  bush  blinds 
far  offshore.  Nowadays  a  bag  of  ten  or  fifteen 
ducks  represents  a  good  day's  shooting.  Formerly, 
all  through  the  winter  and  well  into  the  spring, 
the  canvas-back  remained  in  the  waters  of  Virginia 
and  North  Carolina,  leaving  for  the  north  in  April. 

The  breeding  range  is  from  Oregon  and  the 
northern  portions  of  the  western  United  States  to 
the  northern  limits  of  the  fur  countries  on  the 
interior  bodies  of  water.  It  has  been  found  nest- 
ing in  the  mountainous  portions  of  northern 
Oregon  and  California,  Montana,  and  Dakota,  in 
the  Devil's  Lake  region,  on  the  Anderson  and 
Fraser  rivers,  and  in  numbers  on  the  Yukon. 
Arriving  at  its  breeding-ground  late  in  May,  by 
the  middle  of  June  incubation  is  well  started. 
The  nest  is  made  from  rushes  and  grass  built  up 
from  shallow  water,  and  is  situated  in  clumps  of 


132  The  Water-fowl  Family 

rushes  out  in  the  sloughs,  its  top  being  canopied 
over  with  the  same  material.  The  eggs  are  de- 
posited before  construction  is  complete,  and  are 
from  seven  to  ten  in  number.  Occasionally  the 
eggs  of  the  red-head  and  ruddy  duck  are  found  in 
the  same  nest.  Soon  after  incubation  has  been 
begun  the  male  leaves  the  duck  and,  seeking  the 
seclusion  of  larger  neighboring  bodies  of  water, 
moults,  losing  the  characteristic  attire  of  spring, 
the  plumage  at  this  time  being  a  dull  brown. 

The  ducklings  are  hatched  in  July,  and  quickly 
become  expert  in  hiding  and  diving,  soon  leaving 
the  more  protected  resorts  of  their  nesting-places. 
When  full-fledged  they  frequent  more  open  water 
and  the  deeper,  larger  lakes.  Here  they  are 
joined  by  other  families,  and  the  flocks  form. 
With  the  cold  nights  and  first  frosts  of  early  fall 
they  push  along,  and  by  late  September  the 
advance  flight  is  in  evidence  along  the  northern 
boundaries  of  Montana  and  Dakota.  These 
birds  are  nearly  all  females  and  young.  It  is 
early  October  before  we  see  the  flocks  of  old 
birds.  The  migration  from  the  North  is  over  the 
watercourses  of  the  interior,  until  near  the  boun- 
daries of  the  United  States ;  here  some  birds 
strike  the  Pacific  shore,  a  large  body  pass  over 
the  prairie  to  Texas  and  Mexico,  wintering  on 
the  larger  inland  bodies  of  water  and  along  both 
coasts  to  Central  America.  Another  smaller 


Duck-shooting  133 

flight  is  over  the  Great  Lakes  to  the  Chesapeake 
and  south.  This  is  the  course  of  those  birds 
wintering  on  the  Atlantic  Coast. 

North  of  the  Chesapeake,  on  the  Atlantic,  the 
bird  has  always  been  scarce.  It  is  now  occasion- 
ally killed  on  Long  Island  by  battery  gunners. 
A  few  are  sometimes  taken  in  Barnstable  County, 
southeastern  Massachusetts.  Dr.  Woods  has 
obtained  them  on  the  Connecticut  River.  Two 
adult  males  were  brought  to  me,  killed  on  Lake 
Saltonstall,  near  New  Haven,  December  25,  1901. 

Throughout  the  West  canvas-back  have  been 
driven  from  the  thickly  populated  states ;  on  the 
rivers  and  lakes  of  Illinois  they  no  longer  abound. 
In  the  prairie  states,  and  in  Colorado  and  Cali- 
fornia, however,  they  are  still  killed  in  consider- 
able numbers.  They  are  not  superior  for  the  table 
to  many  of  the  commoner  ducks. 

In  the  spring  of  1901,  late  in  April,  I  was  sur- 
prised to  see  several  flocks  of  canvas-back  near 
Tampico,  Mexico.  They  were  wilder  than  the 
other  ducks,  but  allowed  us  to  approach  surpris- 
ingly near.  Throughout  the  interior  of  Mexico 
this  bird  is  common,  but  does  not  frequent  the 
smaller  sloughs  with  the  thousands  of  other  duck, 
choosing  the  small  lakes  more  inaccessible  from 
the  ranches. 

The  canvas-back  is  known  'by  the  names  white- 
back,  bull-neck,  and  in  New  Orleans,  cheval. 


134  The  Water-fowl  Family 

SCAUP    DUCK 

(Aythya  marila) 

Adult  male — Head,  neck,  front  of  back  and  breast,  black;  head 
and  neck  with  metallic  green  reflections ;  lower  part  of  back 
and  rump  and  under  tail-coverts,  black ;  middle  of  back,  scap- 
ulars, and  anal  region,  white  with  black  undulations ;  wing- 
coverts,  black,  finely  barred  with  white  ;  speculum,  white,  bounded 
in  front  by  black  line ;  tail,  blackish  brown ;  belly  and  sides, 
white ;  bill,  blue-gray ;  nail,  black ;  iris,  yellow ;  legs  and  feet, 
plumbeous. 

Male  in  summer  —  Similar  to  female,  but  head  blacker  and  back 
whiter. 

Measurements  —  Length,  19  inches;  wing,  8.40  inches;  culmen,  2 
inches;  tarsus,  1.40  inches. 

Adult  female  —  Forehead  and  sides  of  head  at  base  of  bill,  white; 
rest  of  head,  neck,  and  breast,  brown;  upper  parts,  dusky  brown ; 
back  and  scapulars,  undulated  slightly  with  white  ;  wings,  brown, 
with  white  speculum  ;  belly,  white  ;  under  tail-coverts  and  anal 
region,  dark  brown ;  iris,  bill,  and  feet,  as  in  the  male. 

Measurements  —  Length,  19  inches;  wing,  8.40  inches;  culmen, 
1.75  inches;  tarsus,  1.40  inches. 

Downy  young — Similar  to  the  Lesser  Scaup. 

Eggs  —  Eight  to  twelve  in  number,  pale  olive-gray,  and  measure  2.55 
by  1.70  inches. 

Habitat  —  Northern  parts  of  northern  hemisphere,  breeding  far 
north,  and,  in  the  eastern  hemisphere,  wintering  south  to  the 
Mediterranean,  Japan,  China,  and  Formosa.  In  North  Amer- 
ica, breeds  from  the  Magdalen  Islands,  Manitoba,  Assiniboia, 
Alberta,  and  British  Columbia,  possibly  Michigan,  Minnesota, 
Iowa,  and  Oregon,  north  to  Labrador,  Hudson  Bay,  probably 
Fort  Anderson,  Kotzebue  Sound,  and  the  Yukon  Delta,  Alaska, 
and  the  Aleutian  Islands.  Winters  from  Maine  to  Florida  and 
the  Bahamas  on  the  Atlantic  Coast ;  on  the  Gulf  Coast ;  and  from 
Colorado,  Arizona,  and  Nevada,  south  to  Guatemala;  and  on 
the  Pacific  Coast  on  the  Aleutian  Islands,  and  from  British 
Columbia  to  California.  Rare  in  the  migrations  in  Newfound- 
land and  Nova  Scotia. 


Duck-shooting  135 

While  the  greater  broadbill,  or  scaup,  occurs 
throughout  North  America,  it  is  especially  a  bird 
of  the  eastern  coast,  Chesapeake  Bay  marking 
the  common  limit  of  its  southern  range.  The 
close  relationship  between  the  greater  and  the 
lesser  broadbill  has  led  to  considerable  confusion 
as  regards  the  distribution  of  species.  South  of 
the  Chesapeake  Bay  and  inland  it  is  replaced  by 
the  lesser  variety.  The  summer  home  of  the 
broadbill  is  far  in  the  North,  along  the  farther 
shores  of  Hudson  Bay,  Greenland,  and  Alaska. 
The  nest  has  been  taken  as  far  south  as  the 
Magdalen  Islands.  It  is  roughly  constructed  of 
grass  and  drift  placed  in  a  mere  depression  on 
the  ground.  The  eggs  are  covered  well  with  down 
and  cared  for  entirely  by  the  duck,  for  during 
incubation  the  drakes  associate  by  themselves. 
Late  October  and  early  November  mark  their 
arrival  on  the  New  England  and  Long  Island 
coasts ;  the  first  small  flocks  are  swelled  in  size  by 
newcomers,  and  the  late  fall  finds  them  well  estab- 
lished in  winter  quarters.  They  soon  accustom 
themselves  to  surroundings  and  become  wild  and 
hard  of  approach,  in  calm  weather  gathering  in 
vast  flocks  far  out  in  the  bay,  passing  to  and  from 
their  feeding-grounds  in  a  characteristic  undulat- 
ing line,  —  if  near  land  or  disturbed  by  boats, 
keeping  high  in  air.  Under  these  circumstances 
batteries  anchored  out  in  the  bay  along  their  line 


136  The  Water-fowl  Family 

of  flight  bring  the  smaller  flocks  in  range.  Some- 
times they  drop  to  the  stool  when  high  overhead, 
coming  up  to  the  decoys  gracefully  and  tumbling 
over  themselves  to  settle  among  the  wooden  con- 
gregation. If  wounded,  they  dive  almost  at  the 
flash,  and  swim  a  long  distance  under  water, 
appearing  at  the  surface  for  an  instant  with  just 
the  head  showing. 

When  stormy  weather  protects  them  from  con- 
stant gunning,  they  gather  in  vast  flocks  seeking 
more  sheltered  water.  The  first  clear  day  may 
offer  the  opportunity.  Be  early.  As  the  duck- 
boat  is  quietly  pushed  out  of  the  harbor  to  the 
outer  islands  the  birds  seem  in  thousands,  rising 
in  front  and  on  all  sides,  leaving  the  water  with  a 
loud  splashing ;  then  the  whir  of  wings,  and  they 
are  gone.  Now  the  first  streak  of  light  shows 
the  black  shadow  of  a  flock  close  by.  The  first 
impulse  is  to  shoot,  the  next  to  reach  the  blind. 
It  seems  an  age  before  the  decoys  are  set  and 
everything  is  ready.  Presently  a  flock  leading  by 
the  decoys  calls  for  attention.  It  is  still  a  little 
early,  and  the  stools  hardly  show ;  now  four  birds 
hovering  in  front  call  forth  the  first  two  shots.  The 
silence  is  broken,  flock  after  flock  of  frightened, 
bewildered  birds  leave  the  water,  circling,  then 
passing  on.  Soon  the  wavy  lines  far  off  mark 
the  departed ;  but  your  patience  is  not  long  taxed, 
a  small  flock  return  and  presently  another,  follow- 


Duck-shooting  137 

ing  each  other  in  the  same  precise  line.  The 
shooting  is  constant,  and  the  gun  grows  hot ;  but 
pick  up  your  birds  quickly,  and  don't  waste  time, 
for  the  flight  is  thick  and  fast,  but  short,  and 
broadbill  do  not  make  mistakes  often. 

This  bird  is  highly  prized  by  gunners  of  the 
eastern  coast,  and  when  vegetable  matter  and  the 
various  grasses  found  on  the  flats  and  bars  com- 
prise its  diet,  the  flesh  is  excellent.  Often  the 
food  consists  of  barnacles  and  Crustacea,  which 
impart  a  slightly  fishy  flavor  to  the  flesh. 

This  species  is  also  known  as  greater  scaup 
duck  and  bluebill. 

LESSER   SCAUP   DUCK 

(Aythya  affinis) 

Adult  male  —  Head,  neck,  and  front  of  body,  black,  with  metallic 
purple  reflections  on  head;  back  and  scapulars,  white,  barred 
with  narrow  black  lines ;  wing-coverts,  dusky,  mottled  with 
white ;  speculum,  white ;  rump  and  upper  tail-coverts,  black ; 
breast  and  abdomen,  white ;  sides,  white,  marked  with  dusky ; 
tail,  black ;  bill,  slate ;  nail,  black ;  legs  and  feet,  slate ;  webs, 
black;  iris,  yellow. 

Measurements  —  Length,  16  inches;  wing,  8  inches;  tail,  3  inches; 
tarsus,  1.30  inches;  culmen,  1.70  inches. 

Adult  female —  Space  at  base  of  bill,  white  ;  rest  of  head  and  neck, 
brown ;  upper  back  and  breast,  umber-brown ;  wings,  dark 
brown ;  speculum,  white ;  under  parts,  white ;  rump  and  upper 
tail-coverts,  dark  brown ;  bill  and  feet,  slate ;  webs,  dusky ; 
iris,  yellow. 

Measurements  —  Similar  to  male. 

Downy  young —  Upper  parts,  dark  brown,  with  buff  spots  on  side  of 
back  and  rump;  lower  parts,  buff;  forehead  and  side  of  head, 


138  The  Water-fowl  Family 

brownish  buff;  narrow  brown  ring  across  neck  in  front  connect- 
ing with  brown  of  upper  parts. 

Eggs —  Eight  to  twelve  in  number,  pale  gray  buff  tinged  with  olive, 
and  measure  2.30  by  1.50  inches. 

Habitat  —  Breeds  from  Nova  Scotia,  Pennsylvania,  Michigan,  Illi- 
nois, Minnesota,  North  Dakota,  Assiniboia,  and  Alberta,  and 
probably  New  York,  West  Virginia,  Ohio,  Indiana,  and  Wyo- 
ming, north  to  Hudson  Strait,  Fort  Anderson,  and  the  Yukon 
Valley,  Alaska,  and  probably  in  Greenland.  Winters  from  New 
Jersey,  rarely  Massachusetts,  Lake  Erie,  Louisiana,  Texas,  Colo- 
rado, Arizona,  Nevada,  and  British  Columbia,  south  to  the  West 
Indies,  Guatemala,  and  Lower  California.  Not  known  to  breed 
in  New  England,  New  Brunswick,  Quebec,  and  Ontario.  Acci- 
dental in  Europe.  Occurs  in  Bermuda. 

For  a  long  time  this  species  was  not  differenti- 
ated from  the  preceding,  and  considerable  con- 
fusion resulted.  It  can  readily  be  distinguished 
by  its  smaller  size,  the  bill  and  feet  being  notice- 
ably smaller  and  especially  the  breadth  of  the 
nail  of  the  bill.  The  head  has  a  distinctly  purple 
sheen  instead  of  the  green  of  the  greater  broad- 
bill.  We  find  the  lesser  broadbill  well  dispersed 
throughout  the  United  States ;  in  fall  and  winter 
occurring  on  inland  lakes  and  rivers,  where  it 
often  goes  by  the  name  of  pond  or  creek  broad- 
bill.  It  continues  south  through  Mexico  to  Gua- 
temala, and  is  found  along  the  South  Atlantic 
Coast  below  the  Chesapeake,  common  in  Florida 
and  the  Gulf  of  Mexico.  North  of  the  Chesa- 
peake this  bird  is  more  rare.  Most  of  the 
instances  of  its  occurrence  in  New  England 
that  have  come  under  the  writer's  observation 


Duck-shooting  1 39 

have  been  in  the  early  fall,  and  then  generally  in 
the  company  of  the  greater  scaup. 

The  lesser  broadbill  breeds  along  the  Yukon 
and  Anderson  rivers  and  through  the  Arctic 
regions  north  of  Hudson  Bay.  The  nest  has 
been  taken  as  far  south  as  Dakota.  Marshes  and 
swamps  of  the  fresh-water  lakes  close  to  the  coast 
are  the  favorite  resorts  in  the  North.  The  nest  is 
constructed  in  a  rude  manner  of  grass  and  rushes 
well  lined  with  down.  Early  July  is  the  breeding- 
time.  According  to  MacFarlane,  the  male  bird  is 
found  with  its  mate  well  along  in  the  period  of 
incubation.  Early  in  October  the  first  flocks 
appear  within  our  boundary,  and  by  November 
they  are  common  throughout  the  West  and  along 
the  southern  coast.  The  lesser  broadbill  possesses 
all  the  habits  of  its  near  relative,  but  is  found  more 
often  on  the  shallow  bays  and  in  smaller  bodies  of 
water.  They  come  well  to  decoys  and  are  occa- 
sionally baited  by  grain  scattered  on  their  feeding- 
ground.  If  these  ducks  have  fed  undisturbed  for 
a  short  time  under  such  circumstances,  they 
return  so  persistently  to  the  spot  that  a  large 
proportion  of  the  flock  are  killed.  Curiosity,  a 
trait  associated  with  disaster,  is  not  wanting  in 
both  varieties  of  broadbill.  If  the  situation  favors, 
a  red  flag  is  gently  waved  from  a  place  of  conceal- 
ment. The  flock  at  once  notices  it,  the  birds 
become  restless,  soon  one  or  two  swim  near, 


140  The  Water-fowl  Family 

others  follow,  and  if  the  tolling  is  carefully  man- 
aged they  are  brought  within  close  range. 

On  Currituck  Sound  in  1895,  I  saw  several 
hundred  broadbill  killed  in  the  vicinity,  all  of 
this  species.  They  frequent  the  larger  rivers 
near  the  coast.  While  hunting  on  the  James 
River  one  day  in  December  from  a  brush  blind 
in  one  of  the  bays,  I  noticed  a  small  flock  of 
broadbill  late  in  the  afternoon  leading  up  a  creek 
near  by.  They  were  soon  followed  by  another, 
and  continually  until  dark,  little  bunches  of  these 
birds  coming  from  the  same  direction  in  the  same 
line,  disappeared  through  the  woods,  evidently 
going  to  some  pond  farther  in  for  the  night.  The 
lesser  broadbill  winters  in  Florida  and  along  the 
Gulf  Coast,  and  in  places  where  protection  is  af- 
forded they  become  very  tame,  in  some  instances 
staying  near  the  hotels  and  winter  resorts. 

Their  extensive  distribution  gives  them  a  num- 
ber of  different  names,  and  this  species  is  variously 
known  as  little  broadbill,  lesser  scaup  duck,  little 
bluebill,  little  black-head,  river  broadbill,  raft- 
duck. 

RING-NECKED    DUCK 
(Aythya  collaris) 

Adult  male  —  Head,  neck,  breast,  upper  parts,  and  under  tail-coverts, 
black,  with  a  sheen  of  reddish  purple  on  the  head,  which  has  a 
slight  crest ;  a  narrow  chestnut  collar  around  the  middle  of  the 
neck ;  a  small  triangular  white  spot  on  the  chin ;  wings,  dark 
brown  with  a  green  gloss  ;  speculum,  gray  ;  under  parts,  white, 


Duck-shooting  141 

the  flanks  and  side  waved  with  fine  black  lines ;  bill,  black, 
crossed  by  a  bar  of  slate ;  legs  and  feet,  slate ;  webs,  dusky ;  iris, 
yellow. 

Measurements  —  Length,  17.50  inches;  wing,  8  inches;  tail,  3.40 
inches;  oilmen,  1.90  inches;  tarsus,  1.25  inches. 

Adult  female  —  Top  of  head  and  back  of  neck,  dark  brown  ;  sides  of 
head,  grayish  white  spotted  with  dusky ;  forehead,  throat,  and 
neck  in  front,  yellowish  white  ;  sides  of  neck,  light  brown ;  back 
and  wings,  dark  brown ;  speculum,  gray,  edged  with  white ; 
lower  back  and  rump,  black ;  upper  breast,  sides,  and  flanks, 
yellowish  brown ;  lower  breast  and  belly,  white ;  bill,  iris,  and 
feet,  as  in  the  male. 

Measurements — Length,  16  to  18  inches;  wing,  8  inches;  culmen, 
1.25  to  2  inches;  tarsus,  1.30  inches. 

Male  in  breeding  season  goes  into  dull  plumage  resembling 
female. 

Downy  young — Top  of  head,  neck,  and  upper  parts,  dark  grayish 
brown,  rest  of  head,  neck,  and  lower  parts,  pale  buff;  a  spot  of 
light  buff  in  the  centre  of  the  back  and  on  each  side  of  the  back 
and  rump. 

Eggs  —  Nine  to  twelve  in  number,  grayish  or  buff  in  color,  and 
measure  2.10  by  1.65  inches. 

Habitat  —  Breeds  from  Illinois,  Iowa,  North  Dakota,  Utah,  and  Ore- 
gon, north  to  the  Mackenzie  River  and  probably  Fort  Anderson, 
and  reported  in  summer  at  St.  Michael,  Alaska,  and  on  the 
Aleutian  Islands.  Said  to  have  bred  in  Maine.  Winters  from 
New  Jersey,  Illinois,  Nevada,  British  Columbia,  and  the  Aleu- 
tians, south  to  the  West  Indies,  Guatemala,  and  Lower  Califor- 
nia. Occurs  in  migration  north  on  the  Atlantic  to  Newfoundland, 
Nova  Scotia,  and  Quebec,  and  it  has  been  recorded  from  Eng- 
land and  Bermuda. 

The  ring-neck  as  compared  with  other  ducks  is 
nowhere  a  common  variety.  It  is  most  abundant 
through  the  Western  states  and  Mississippi  Valley, 
and  is  found  sparingly  along  the  Pacific  Coast. 
On  the  Atlantic  Coast  it  is  taken  most  frequently 


142  The  Water-fowl  Family 

in  the  Southern  states.  Occasionally  there  has 
been  quite  a  spring  flight  through  Illinois  and 
the  adjacent  states,  numbers  finding  their  way  to 
Chicago  markets.  In  Maine  and  Massachusetts 
the  ring-neck  is  sometimes  taken.  In  southern 
New  England  it  is  rare ;  and  the  writer  knows  of 
but  two  specimens  killed  in  Connecticut :  one  was 
an  adult  male  shot  in  the  winter  of  1886  in  a  small 
pond  near  New  Haven,  the  other  a  young  male 
killed  on  Lake  Saltonstall,  December,  1900. 
South  it  is  more  abundant,  and  on  the  large 
sounds  off  Virginia  and  North  Carolina  a  few  are 
shot,  although  the  inland  rivers  and  ponds  seem 
to  be  their  favorite  abode.  In  Georgia,  Florida, 
and  along  the  Gulf  of  Mexico  the  ring-neck  is 
found  in  small  flocks. 

The  breeding-ground  is  in  the  far  North,  but 
the  bird  has  been  found  on  our  northern  border, 
in  Dakota  and  other  of  the  Western  states,  and  in 
Maine,  in  the  vicinity  of  Calais,  by  Mr.  George 
Boardman.  Here  in  the  summer  of  1884  he  took 
a  nest  with  eleven  eggs.  It  was  placed  among 
the  reeds  and  thick  grass  on  the  banks  of  the  St. 
Croix  River,  and  was  constructed  of  grass  without 
down.  The  birds  appear  within  the  United  States 
early  in  November,  and  while  going  far  south,  a 
few  stay  through  the  winter  in  the  Northern  states 
until  the  last  ice  holes  freeze.  They  are  seen  in 
small  flocks  of  from  six  to  twelve,  keeping  pretty 


Duck-shooting  143 

much  to  themselves ;  but  sometimes  they  associate 
with  the  lesser  broadbill,  whose  habits  they  much 
resemble.  The  ring-neck  is  a  strong  flyer,  rising 
easily  and  quickly  from  the  water,  the  flight  hav- 
ing the  wavy  appearance  of  the  broadbill.  They 
come  readily  to  decoys,  but  are  a  difficult  mark, 
and  when  wounded  readily  escape  by  diving, 
swimming  well  under  water,  showing  just  the 
head  when  coming  to  the  surface.  A  low,  guttural 
note  is  heard  at  times,  but  the  birds  are  usually 
quiet.  The  flesh  is  excellent.  Other  names  for 
this  species  are  tufted  duck,  ring-bill  bastard, 
ring-bill  black-head,  ring-neck  scaup,  ring-bill 
shaffer. 

AMERICAN    GOLDEN-EYE 
(Clangula  clangula  americand) 

Adult  male  —  Head,  occipital  crest,  and  upper  part  of  neck,  glossy 
green  with  sometimes  violet  reflections  ;  a  large,  oval,  white  spot 
close  to  the  base  of  bill  on  each  side  ;  lower  part  of  neck,  upper 
part  of  back,  greater  wing-coverts,  and  under  parts,  pure  white ; 
rest  of  upper  parts,  long  scapulars,  and  some  secondaries,  black  ; 
tail,  ashy  ;  bill,  black  ;  feet,  yellowish  ;  webs,  dusky  ;  iris,  yellow. 

Measurements  —  Length,  20  inches;  wing,  8.85  inches;  tail,  4.50 
inches;  tarsus,  1.50  inches;  oilmen,  1.60  inches. 

Adult  female  —  Head  and  upper  part  of  neck,  brown  ;  a  slight  oc- 
cipital crest ;  a  narrow  collar  on  neck  of  white,  streaked  with 
gray;  back,  dark  brown;  feathers  on  upper  back,  edged  with 
gray ;  those  of  upper  tail-coverts,  tipped  with  pale  brown ; 
white  on  wings  not  so  extensive  as  those  on  male  ;  tips  of  greater 
wing-coverts,  black,  forming  a  bar  across  the  white ;  a  band  of 
bluish  gray  across  upper  part  of  breast ;  under  parts,  white ; 
thighs,  dusky  ;  tail,  brown  ;  bill,  dull  yellow,  varied  with  brown  ; 
iris,  light  yellow  ;  legs  and  feet,  yellowish ;  webs,  dusky. 


144  The  Water-fowl  Family 

Measurements  —  Length,  17  inches;  wing,  8  inches;  tail,  4.50 
inches;  oilmen,  1.30  inches;  tarsus,  1.40  inches;  height  of  bill 
from  point  of  angle  to  nearest  cutting  edge  less  than  the  dis- 
tance between  the  farthest  edge  of  the  nostril  and  nearest 
feathers  at  base  of  bill;  in  distinction  from  female  Barrow's 
golden-eye. 

Young  male —  Similar  to  female,  but  larger,  and  head  not  crested. 

Downy  young — Upper  parts,  including  the  upper  half  of  the  head, 
sides,  and  thighs,  deep,  sooty  brown,  lighter  on  the  jugulum. 
Four  pair  of  grayish  white  spots,  situated  one  on  the  posterior 
border  of  each  wing,  one  on  each  side  of  the  back,  one  on  each 
side  of  the  rump,  one  on  each  flank ;  chin  and  throat,  white ; 
remaining  lower  parts,  grayish  white. 

Eggs  —  Ten  to  seventeen  in  number,  bright  pea-green  in  color, 
measure  2.40  by  1.70  inches. 

Habitat  —  Breeds  from  Maine,  New  York,  Minnesota,  North  Dakota, 
Montana,  probably  Colorado,  Alberta,  and  British  Columbia, 
north  to  Newfoundland,  Labrador,  Hudson  Bay,  the  Mackenzie 
Delta,  Yukon  Valley,  and  Cook  Inlet,  Alaska.  Winters  from 
New  Brunswick,  Maine,  New  York,  Ohio,  Indiana,  Michigan, 
Minnesota,  Nebraska,  Texas,  Utah,  Nevada,  British  Columbia, 
and  the  Aleutian  Islands,  south  to  the  West  Indies,  Mexico, 
and  California.  Occurs  in  Bermuda. 

We  associate  this  sprightly  duck  with  cold 
weather.  The  smallest  ice  holes,  when  all  the  bays 
and  lakes  are  frozen,  give  it  a  chance  for  a  liveli- 
hood. The  golden-eye  remains  fat  and  contented 
under  these  circumstances,  when  other  members 
of  the  duck  family  quickly  show  the  results  of 
starvation  rations.  This  bird  has  a  wide  acquaint- 
ance; in  summer  the  Eskimo,  in  winter  the 
Florida  Indian  and  the  Mexican,  with  all  varieties 
of  gunners  in  between.  The  American  golden- 
eye  is  common  on  the  lakes  and  streams  of  the 


Duck-shooting 

Rocky  Mountains,  the  Pacific  Coast,  throughout 
the  interior,  and  along  the  Atlantic. 

The  breeding  range  is  from  the  northern 
United  States  to  the  Arctic  sea.  Small  streams 
and  lakes  are  their  favorite  resorts;  here  they 
select  a  hollow  tree  at  a  comfortable  distance 
from  the  nearest  water  and  raise  their  brood. 
The  female  undertakes  their  entire  charge  and 
teaches  them  the  golden-eye  tricks.  In  the  sum- 
mer of  1895,  while  travelling  through  the  Cascade 
Range  in  British  Columbia,  we  found  nearly 
every  small  lake  had  its  brood  of  golden-eye.  It 
was  early  in  August,  and  the  birds  were  not 
fledged.  The  flocks  were  surprisingly  large,  in 
some  instances  consisting  of  twenty  or  more 
young  ducks,  and  with  them  one  old  bird. 
When  disturbed,  the  duck  at  once  flew  to  the 
farther  end  of  the  pond,  directing  the  course  of 
the  young  ones  by  a  guttural  note,  which  I  have 
never  at  other  times  heard  from  the  golden-eye. 
They  breed  commonly  as  far  south  as  northern 
New  England,  often  frequenting  the  same  lakes 
and  streams  as  the  American  merganser. 

The  golden-eye  are  in  no  hurry  to  leave  their 
northern  home,  and  we  hardly  see  them  on  the 
coast  before  late  October.  They  come  in  small 
flocks,  keeping  pretty  much  to  themselves,  and 
frequent  the  shallow,  sandy  bays,  feeding  on  the 
flats  and  bars,  often  going  up  the  rivers  to  spend 


146  The  Water-fowl  Family 

the  day;  always  wary  and  suspicious,  remaining 
in  open  places,  and  seldom  trusting  themselves  in 
range  of  land.  These  birds  in  the  fall  do  not 
often  come  to  decoys.  When  the  harbors  are 
frozen,  and  the  current  or  tide  leaves  a  little  open 
water,  the  opportunity  is  afforded.  There  is  no 
colder  shooting.  A  small,  white  ice-boat  is  a 
convenient  contrivance  for  this  purpose.  It  is 
rigged  on  a  sled  and  pulled  out  to  the  edge  of  the 
ice.  The  ducks  are  there  and  loath  to  leave. 
They  begin  to  return  almost  before  the  few 
decoys  are  set  and  you  have  finished  warming 
your  fingers.  There  are  few  sounds  more  attrac- 
tive than  their  whistling  wings,  heard  and  not  seen, 
in  the  cold  gray  of  dawn,  —  so  close  overhead, 
you  feel  the  birds  must  be  in  sight  even  in  the 
dim  light.  All  is  ready;  soon  you  see  a  flock 
high  up,  coming  with  speed.  The  flight  is  un- 
mistakable, and  the  white  breasts  of  the  birds 
noticeable.  They  circle  and  plunge  into  the 
decoys,  but  are  up  again  and  off  almost  before 
the  shot.  A  frightened  bird  still  sits  among  the 
stool ;  you  wait  for  him  to  follow  his  comrades, 
but  he  dives,  coming  up  well  out  of  range. 
They  come  in  nicely,  but  the  bag  is  small  and 
well  earned,  for  the  cripples  are  difficult  to  kill, 
and  the  cold  makes  you  slow. 

The  golden-eye  subsists  on  a  variety  of  food,  — 
small   shellfish  and   Crustacea  and  various  vege- 


Duck-shooting  147 

table  matter,  in  the  South  delighting  in  the  rice- 
fields  ;  hence  the  character  of  the  flesh  varies. 
Among  the  wildest  of  our  ducks,  they  are  quick 
to  appreciate  protection.  On  the  Charles  River, 
flocks  of  these  birds  are  seen  through  the  winter 
feeding  in  close  proximity  to  the  docks  and 
bridges  of  Boston. 

The  golden-eye  has  a  variety  of  names :  whis- 
tler, whistle  wing,  whiffler,  spirit  duck,  bullhead ; 
in  Louisiana,  plongeur. 

BARROW'S  GOLDEN-EYE 

(Clangula  islandica) 

Adult  male  —  Head,  crest,  and  upper  part  of  neck,  glossy  bluish 
black  with  blue  reflections  ;  a  crescentric-shaped  white  patch  at 
the  base  of  bill ;  lower  part  of  neck  and  under  parts,  pure  white ; 
upper  parts,  black ;  outer  row  of  scapulars,  with  oblong  white 
spots  ;  a  lengthened  white  patch  on  the  wing ;  bases  of  greater 
wing-coverts,  black,  forming  a  bar  across  the  white  portion ; 
feathers  of  sides  and  flanks,  white  with  outer  edges  black ;  tail, 
black ;  bill,  black ;  feet  and  legs,  orange,  with  dusky  webs ; 
iris,  yellow. 

Measure?nents  —  Length,  22  inches;  wing,  9  inches;  tarsus,  1.50 
inches;  culmen,  1.30  inches;  height  of  bill,  at  base,  I  inch. 

Adult  female  —  Head  and  neck,  brown,  darkest  on  top  of  he^d  and 
back  of  neck ;  a  narrow  white  collar  at  base  of  neck ;  upper 
parts,  brownish  black ;  feathers  of  back,  edged  with  gray ; 
white  patch  on  wing,  crossed  by  black  bar ;  upper  part  of  breast 
and  sides,  gray ;  rest  of  under  parts,  white ;  bill,  horn  color ; 
legs  and  feet,  pale  orange ;  webs,  dusky. 

Measurements  —  Length,  20  inches  ;  wing,  8.40  inches  ;  culmen,  1 .50 
inches  ;  height  of  bill  at  base,  .90  inch. 

This  bird  resembles  the  female  of  the  common  golden-eye,  but 
is  somewhat  larger.     According  to  Ridge  way,  it  can  be  distin- 


148  The  Water-fowl  Family 

guished  by  the  height  of  the  maxilla  as  compared  with  the  dis- 
tance from  the  feathered  edge  at  base  of  the  bill  to  the  anterior 
edge  of  nostril.  In  the  female  Barrow's  golden-eye  these 
measurements  should  be  equal. 

Downy  young — Top  and  sides  of  head,  brown;  neck,  chest,  and 
sides,  pale ;  throat  and  under  parts,  white. 

Eggs  —  Six  to  ten  in  number,  grayish  pea-green  in  color,  and  meas- 
ure 2.40  by  i. 60  inches. 

Habitat  —  Breeds  from  Quebec  and  Washington,  the  mountains 
of  Oregon,  south  in  the  Rocky  Mountains  to  Colorado,  north 
to  Chilkat  Peninsula,  Alaska,  Fort  Anderson,  and  southern 
Greenland,  and  in  Iceland.  Winters  chiefly  north  of  the  United 
States,  from  southern  Greenland  and  southeastern  Alaska,  rarely 
to  North  Carolina,  Ohio,  Indiana,  Illinois,  Minnesota,  South 
Dakota,  Colorado,  Utah,  Idaho,  Oregon,  and  California.  Acci- 
dental in  Europe. 


The  Barrow's  golden-eye  is  one  of  our  rarer 
ducks.  The  full-plumaged  male  is  a  showy  bird, 
the  soft  steel-blue  sheen  of  his  crest  and  the 
bright  black  and  white  of  the  back  being  a 
marked  contrast  to  the  brown  and  white  of  his 
mate.  This  bird  ranges  from  Arctic  America  to 
the  northern  border  of  the  United  States  and 
breeds  throughout  these  limits.  We  see  the 
Barrow's  golden-eye  among  the  lakes  and  rivers 
of  the  Rocky  Mountains,  from  Colorado  north 
through  British  Columbia  to  Alaska.  The  breed- 
ing-ground is  often  in  mountainous  districts,  the 
bird  choosing  the  hollow  of  a  tree  near  some 
stream  or  lake  for  its  nesting-place.  In  the 
writer's  collection  a  set  of  eggs  from  Iceland 
bears  the  following  label:  "  Myvatis,  June  23, 


Duck-sbooting  149 

1889,  nest  composed  of  down  and  feathers,  located 
in  a  box  fastened  to  a  tree."  In  Iceland  the  bird 
is  not  uncommon  and  often  breeds  in  holes  in  the 
ground  at  a  considerable  depth,  where  trees  are 
scarce.  Mr.  Edwin  Carter  of  Colorado  probably 
first  discovered  the  nest  and  eggs  in  this  country. 
In  1876  he  took  a  set  of  ten,  and  since  then  has 
repeatedly  seen  the  young  brood.  On  the  Atlantic 
coast  the  Barrow's  golden-eye  is  taken  regularly 
in  Maine  and  New  Brunswick.  Professor  D.  G. 
Elliot  at  times  has  found  it  numerous  on  the  St. 
Lawrence  near  Ogdensburg,  and  has  here  killed 
it  over  decoys.  Both  species  were  associated  on 
the  river,  the  flight  being  up  and  down  in  the 
direction  of  Lake  Erie,  the  birds  stopping  occa- 
sionally in  the  coves  to  feed,  and  floating  down 
with  the  current.1 

On  the  coast  of  Massachusetts  the  Barrow's 
golden-eye  is  rare.  In  the  collection  of  Mr. 
William  Brewster  are  several  birds  from  Boston 
markets  killed  in  the  vicinity.  Along  the  southern 
New  England  coast  it  is  seldom  met  with,  and  I 
have  never  seen  a  specimen  from  Long  Island 
Sound,  although  from  descriptions  of  gunners 
there  is  no  doubt  it  occasionally  occurs.  The 
bird  is  possessed  of  all  the  habits  of  the  common 
golden-eye,  flying  high  and  fast,  with  the  same 
shrill,  whistling  flight.  It  is  a  quick  diver,  dis- 

1  "Wild  Fowl  of  North  America,"  by  D.  G.  Elliot. 


150  The  Water-fowl  Family 

appearing  often  at  the  flash ;  when  wounded 
swimming  a  long  distance  under  water,  appear- 
ing a  second  at  the  surface,  and  disappearing 
before  there  is  time  to  raise  a  gun.  The  flesh, 
like  that  of  the  common  golden-eye,  is  frequently 
fishy,  although  when  the  birds  have  frequented 
fresh-water  ponds  and  lakes  this  flavor  disappears. 
The  species  is  known  also  as  the  Rocky  Moun- 
tain golden-eye  or  garrot 

BUFFLE-HEAD 
(Charitonetta  albeola) 

Adult  male  —  A  broad,  white  band  extends  from  behind  and  beneath 
the  eye  to  the  occiput ;  rest  of  head  and  whole  of  neck,  glossed 
with  green,  violet,  and  bronze  reflections ;  the  feathers  of  the 
head  are  puffed  out  on  sides  and  back  ;  lower  part  of  neck,  entire 
under  parts,  a  large  patch  on  wing  composed  of  wing-coverts,  and 
outer  webs  of  secondaries,  and  scapulars,  white  ;  primaries,  black ; 
back  and  rump,  black,  fading  into  pearl-gray  of  the  upper  tail- 
coverts  ;  tail,  dark  gray,  with  white  edges  ;  bill,  slate  ;  nail,  black  ; 
iris,  dark  brown ;  legs  and  feet,  flesh  color. 

Measurements  —  Length,  14.50  inches;  wing,  6.50  inches;  culmen, 
1.20  inches  ;  tarsus,  1.20  inches. 

Adult  female  —  Head  and  neck,  dusky ;  top  of  head,  blackish,  a  white 
stripe  on  cheeks  and  ear-coverts ;  upper  parts,  blackish  gray, 
grading  into  black  on  the  rump ;  apical  half  of  outer  webs  of 
secondaries,  white,  forming  speculum ;  upper  parts  of  breast, 
sides,  anal  region,  and  lower  tail-coverts,  dull  gray;  rest  of 
under  parts,  white  ;  tail,  gray ;  bill,  dusky  ;  legs  and  feet,  slate  ; 
webs,  dusky ;  iris,  brown. 

Measurements  —  Length,  13.50  inches;  wing,  5.90  inches;  culmen, 
i  inch  ;  tarsus,  i.io  inches. 

Plumage  of  male  in  the  first  year  resembles  female,  but  the 
feathers  of  the  head  are  more  puffed. 


Duck-shooting  151 

Eggs  —  Seven  to  ten  in  number,  of  a  grayish  white  color,  with  a 
tinge  of  green,  and  measure  2  by  1.45  inches. 

Habitat  —  Breeds  from  New  Brunswick,  Maine,  Ontario,  Manitoba, 
Montana,  Alberta,  and  British  Columbia,  and  probably  Michigan, 
Minnesota,  Iowa,  Wyoming,  and  Colorado,  north  to  Labrador, 
Greenland,  Hudson  Bay,  the  lower  Mackenzie,  and  the  upper 
Yukon.  Winters  from  New  Brunswick,  western  New  York, 
Ohio,  Indiana,  Michigan,  Illinois,  Missouri,  Colorado,  Idaho, 
British  Columbia,  and  the  Aleutian  Islands,  south  to  Cuba, 
Mexico,  and  Lower  California.  Recorded  also  from  Nova  Scotia 
and  Newfoundland,  Bermuda,  Great  Britain,  the  Alaskan  coast 
of  Bering  Sea,  Bering  Island,  and  Hawaii. 


This  sprite  is  always  a  pleasure  to  see.  The 
male  with  his  buffle  head  of  white  and  violet 
can  well  be  proud  of  his  plumage.  Lightly  and 
gracefully  floating  on  the  water's  surface,  if  occa- 
sion requires  he  dives  like  a  flash  or  springs  into 
the  air  with  the  speed  of  a  teal.  The  female  is 
plain  and  insignificant,  except  in  her  power  to  get 
through  space.  The  species  is  widely  distributed 
through  North  America,  its  range  extending  to 
the  Arctic  region.  In  the  North,  on  account  of 
its  traits,  this  species  is  known  as  spirit  duck. 

The  breeding-ground  is  as  far  south  as  the 
northern  border  of  the  United  States,  and  from 
Alaska  to  Greenland.  The  nest  has  not  been 
found  often.  It  is  generally  in  the  hole  of  a  tree 
near  the  water's  edge.  Mr.  Lockhart  describes  a 
nest  from  the  Yukon  River.  It  was  in  the 
hollow  of  a  rotten  stump  near  the  bank,  and  con- 
tained nine  eggs.  The  same  gentleman  discov- 


152  The  Water-fowl  Family 

ered  a  second  nest  on  the  Black  River,  June  7. 
It  was  in  the  hollow  of  a  poplar  tree  some  twenty 
feet  from  the  ground.  The  hole  was  dug  out  like 
a  woodpecker's,  an  arm's  length  in  depth,  and 
contained  ten  eggs.  In  early  October  we  find 
them  generally  distributed  throughout  the  United 
States.  The  females  and  young  predominate  at 
first.  Inland,  the  smaller  bodies  of  water,  lakes, 
and  rivers  are  their  favorite  haunts.  They  are 
seen  usually  in  small  flocks  by  themselves,  diving 
near  the  shore  for  their  food,  and  can  readily  be 
approached.  Generally  one  or  two  birds  remain 
on  the  surface,  ready  to  give  an  alarm,  and  if 
startled  they  take  quick  leave.  The  butterball  is 
common  on  both  coasts,  and  is  fond  of  shallow, 
sandy  bays,  frequenting  the  tide-rips  and  mouths 
of  rivers,  remaining  through  the  coldest  weather. 
A  few  years  ago  this  bird  was  common  all  along 
the  New  England  shore.  Large  numbers  wintered 
on  the  Sound  between  New  Haven  and  Stratford, 
where  the  coast  is  shallow  and  sandy,  early  in 
the  morning  leaving  the  outer  flats  and  feeding  up 
the  rivers.  It  was  a  simple  matter  to  shoot  them 
on  their  flight,  as  they  came  over  the  bars,  low 
down  and  usually  in  the  same  course.  Recently 
the  butterball  seem  to  have  largely  disappeared 
from  the  New  England  coast,  though  still  common 
on  bays  farther  south.  They  are  conspicuous  as 
being  the  least,  but  by  no  means  last,  of  our  wild- 


Duck-shooting  153 

fowl  family.  The  other  common  names  for  this 
species  are  butterball,  butterbox,  dipper,  spirit 
duck,  marionette. 

OLD-SQUAW 

(Harelda  hyemalis) 

Adult  male  in  winter — Lores,  cheeks,  and  orbital  regions,  mouse- 
gray  ;  rest  of  head,  eyelids,  lower  part  of  neck,  upper  part  of 
jugulum,  and  back,  white ;  side  of  neck,  black,  ochraceous  pos- 
teriorly ;  middle  of  back,  rump,  upper  tail-coverts,  tail,  wings, 
whole  of  breast,  and  upper  abdomen,  black  or  brownish  black; 
scapulars,  pearl-gray ;  secondaries,  brown ;  tail,  four  median 
feathers,  black,  with  central  pair  much  elongated ;  rest  of  tail, 
white ;  under  parts,  white ;  bill  black  at  base,  terminal  portion 
yellow,  band  of  pink  between ;  legs  and  feet,  pale  slate,  webs, 
dusky ;  iris,  light  brown. 

Measurements —  Length,  21  to  23  inches,  according  to  elongation  of 
central  tail  feathers ;  wing,  8.90  inches  ;  oilmen,  i.io  inches  ;  tar- 
sus, 1.35  inches  ;  middle  tail  feathers,  8  to  9.50  inches. 

Adult  female  in  winter  —  Head,  neck,  and  lower  parts,  mostly  white ; 
forehead  and  crown,  dusky ;  chin,  throat,  and  face,  tinged  with 
gray ;  upper  parts,  dusky  brown ;  tail,  grayish  brown,  central 
pair  of  feathers  not  elongated. 

Measurements  —  Length,  18  inches;  wing,  8.25  inches;  oilmen, 
i  inch;  tarsus,  1.25  inches. 

Adult  male  in  summer  —  Lores,  cheeks,  and  sides  of  forehead,  mouse- 
gray;  eyelids  and  a  line  passing  over  the  eye  to  ear-coverts, 
white ;  rest  of  head,  neck,  and  upper  parts,  sooty  black ;  the 
feathers  on  upper  part  of  back  and  the  scapulars,  variegated 
with  brown ;  wing-coverts,  brownish  black ;  secondaries,  gray 
on  outer  web,  edged  with  white ;  four  centre  tail  feathers,  black, 
with  middle  pair  greatly  elongated  ;  breast  and  upper  abdomen, 
brownish  black;  rest  of  under  parts,  white;  feet  and  iris  as 
described  above. 

Adult  female  in  summer  —  Head  and  neck  grayish  brown  ;  space 
around  the  eye  and  on  each  side  of  neck,  grayish  white ;  upper 
parts,  dark  brown ;  scapulars,  light  brown ;  wings  like  male ; 


154  The  Water-fowl  Family 

upper  tail-coverts,  blackish ;  tail,  dark  brown  in  centre,  lighter 
at  the  edges;  central  feathers  not  elongated;  upper  part  of 
breast  and  sides,  light  brown ;  rest  of  under  parts,  pure  white ; 
bill,  dusky ;  legs  and  feet,  bluish  gray  ;  webs,  dusky ;  iris,  hazel. 

Young  —  Plumage  similar  to  female.  In  the  young  male  the  char- 
acteristic plumage  of  adult  is  more  or  less  noticeable. 

Downy  young —  Head  and  upper  parts,  brown,  grayish  markings 
near  the  eye ;  a  dusky  stripe  from  the  bill  to  back  of  head ; 
under  parts,  white,  with  a  dark  brown  band  across  the  breast. 

Eggs  —  Six  to  nine  in  number ;  pale  grayish  green  in  color,  and 
measure  2  inches  by  1.40. 

Habitat  —  The  northern  hemisphere.  In  North  America  breeds 
from  southern  Labrador,  Hudson  Bay,  the  upper  Mackenzie, 
the  interior  of  Alaska,  and  possibly  British  Columbia,  north  to 
northern  Greenland,  Grinnell  Land,  the  Arctic  coasts  and 
islands,  the  Bering  Sea  coast  of  Alaska,  and  the  Aleutians  and 
islands  in  Bering  Sea,  and  accidentally  in  New  York  (?).  Win- 
ters in  southern  Greenland,  and  from  the  Gulf  of  St.  Lawrence, 
south  regularly  to  North  Carolina  and  the  Great  Lakes,  and 
rarely  to  Florida,  Louisiana,  Texas,  and  Colorado ;  about  the 
Bering  Sea  islands  and  the  Aleutians,  south  regularly  to  Wash- 
ington, and  rarely  to  San  Diego  Bay,  California. 

The  old-squaw  brings  up  recollections  of  win- 
ter on  the  New  England  coast.  Arriving  in 
November,  and  often  ushered  in  by  a  storm, 
these  birds  frequent  the  bays  and  sounds,  becom- 
ing more  and  more  abundant  with  increasing  ice 
and  freezing  nights,  gathering  in  vast  rafts  in  our 
harbors  if  not  too  much  molested.  They  are  of 
a  social  disposition,  and  their  musical  note  is 
always  in  evidence  —  the  more  the  merrier.  The 
honk,  honk  a  link,  honk  a  link,  tells  of  snow  at 
Christmas.  All  winter  long  they  stay,  with 
milder  weather  leaving  their  nooks  inshore  and 


UJ 


Q 


Duck-shooting  155 

resorting  to  the  open  water,  feeding  at  a  con- 
siderable depth  on  small  molluscs  and  shellfish. 

The  male  old-squaw,  in  his  winter  plumage  of 
black  and  white,  with  the  white  plumes  of  his 
wing  and  long  tail  feathers,  is  a  very  handsome 
bird.  With  spring  this  attire  changes,  and  he 
assumes  a  dark  dress,  so  that  when  it  comes  time 
for  him  to  take  leave,  we  scarce  can  recognize  the 
same  bird.  While  these  birds  are  good  examples 
of  rugged  New  Englanders,  we  find  them  along 
the  shallow  bays  of  Long  Island  and  New  Jersey, 
even  wintering  in  some  numbers  off  the  coasts  of 
our  Southern  states.  On  the  Pacific  Coast  they 
are  found  in  Alaska  during  the  summer,  but  do 
not  occur  in  large  numbers  farther  south.  The 
bird  is  regularly  met  with  on  the  Great  Lakes, 
and  is  a  straggler  on  the  larger  rivers.  Arctic 
America  is  their  breeding-ground,  Greenland, 
Hudson  Bay,  the  shores  of  the  Arctic  sea,  and 
the  Aleutian  Islands.  The  shores  and  islands  of 
fresh-water  lakes,  a  short  distance  inland,  are 
favorite  sites.  The  nest  is  of  grass,  the  duck  lin- 
ing it  with  down  as  incubation  progresses,  and 
remaining  the  sole  guardian  of  her  brood. 

The  writer  saw,  in  the  summer  of  1886,  a  pair 
of  old-squaws  with  their  young  ducks  off  Little 
Gull  Island,  in  Long  Island  Sound.  One  of  the 
old  birds  was  doubtless  a  cripple.  At  the  first 
approach  of  danger  the  brood  would  disappear, 


156  The  Water-fowl  Family 

diving  in  the  open  water.  The  flight  is  graceful 
and  fast,  but  near  the  water,  and  they  pass  with- 
out hesitation  over  the  line  of  boats  anchored  in 
the  path.  When  startled  by  the  gunner  the  flock 
bunches,  and  if  this  chance  is  waited  for,  several 
birds  fall  at  a  shot,  the  others  often  circling  over 
the  wounded.  Few  crippled  ducks  are  quicker 
about  getting  under,  and  when  once  they  appreci- 
ate their  predicament,  it  is  good-by,  old-squaw; 
they  dive  at  the  flash,  and  you  will  save  time  by 
letting  them  go,  and  wishing  them  luck.  These 
birds  are  easily  decoyed,  and,  by  imitating  their 
note,  are  often  turned  from  their  course  and 
called  in.  They  drop  among  the  stool  with  a 
sociable  grunt.  You  wait  for  them  to  rise,  but 
they  may  think  differently,  and  just  disappear, 
coming  to  the  surface  and  taking  wing  out  of 
range.  As  an  edible  bird  the  old-squaw  is  not  a 
success,  and  the  only  excuse  for  shooting  him  is 
sport,  pure  and  simple.  The  natives  alongshore 
pick  the  bird,  and  their  breast  feathers  have 
stuffed  many  a  pillow  down  east. 

This  species  is  known  by  various  names: 
south  southerly,  oldwife,  old  Indian,  cockawee, 
coween,  long-tailed  duck,  scolder.  On  mild  days 
in  spring  and  fall  old-squaws  sometimes  "  tower," 
collecting  in  large  flocks,  and  flying  so  high  in 
the  air  as  to  be  hardly  visible,  then  descending  to 
the  water  with  a  rush,  the  whistling  of  their  wings 


Duck-shooting  157 

being  audible  from  a  distance.  This  habit  is 
described  by  Mr.  George  H.  Mackay  in  the  Auk 
for  October,  1892. 

HARLEQUIN    DUCK 

(Histrionicus  histrionicus) 

Adult  male  —  Loral  region,  with  a  stripe  on  each  side  of  crown,  a 
round  spot  near  the  ears,  a  long,  narrow  stripe  on  each  side  of 
upper  hind  neck,  a  narrow  collar  around  lower  part  of  neck,  a 
broad  bar  across  sides  of  breast  in  front  of  wing,  middle  of 
scapulars,  portion  of  tertials,  a  round  spot  on  lesser  wing- 
coverts,  tips  of  some  of  greater  wing-coverts,  and  a  round  spot 
on  each  side  of  breast  above  and  below,  pure  white ;  under  side 
of  neck  and  bar  on  side  of  breast  above  and  below  the  white, 
black ;  centre  of  forehead,  crown,  and  nape,  black,  bordered 
on  each  side  with  chestnut;  rest  of  head  and  neck,  dark 
slate,  glossed  with  violet  ;  upper  parts,  leaden  blue  grading 
into  blue-black  on  lower  part  of  rump  and  upper  tail-coverts ; 
wing-coverts,  bluish  slate;  speculum,  bluish  violet;  primaries 
and  tail  feathers,  dusky  black;  breast,  plumbeous,  becoming 
bluish  gray  on  abdomen,  grading  into  black  of  the  under  tail- 
coverts  ;  sides  and  flanks,  bright  rufous  ;  bill,  slate  ;  base,  olive- 
gray  ;  tip,  paler ;  iris,  hazel ;  legs  and  feet,  slate ;  webs,  dusky. 

Measurements  —  Length,  17. 50  inches;  wing,  7.80  inches;  culmen, 
i  inch  ;  tarsus,  1 .40  inches. 

Adult  female  —  Head,  neck,  and  jugulum,  grayish  brown ;  a  white 
spot  near  the  auricular  region;  the  lores  and  sides  of  head, 
tinged  with  white;  sides  and  flanks,  grayish  brown;  bill  and 
feet,  slate ;  webs,  dusky ;  iris,  brown. 

Young  male  —  Bright  markings  of  the  adult  male,  indistinct ;  on  the 
upper  parts  the  white  is  not  well  defined  and  there  is  no  blue- 
black  ;  the  speculum,  dull  gray,  without  gloss ;  lower  parts,  gray- 
ish white,  each  feather  marked  with  a  transverse  spot  of  grayish 
brown;  the  sides  and  flanks,  grayish  brown,  without  rufous;  the 
collar  around  the  lower  neck,  imperfect. 

Young  female —  Resembles  the  adult  female,  but  the  upper  parts  are 
darker  and  the  lower  parts  more  tinged  with  brown, 


158  The  Water-fowl  Family 

Downy  young — Top  of  head  and  upper  parts,  blackish  brown;  face 
and  neck,  white  ;  under  parts  and  a  spot  on  each  wing  and  thigh, 
white. 

Eggs —  Seven  to  ten  in  number,  a  dark  brownish  gray  in  color,  and 
measure  2.20  by  1.70  inches. 

Habitat  —  Breeds  from  Newfoundland,  Labrador,  Fort  Rae,  and 
British  Columbia,  and  south  in  the  mountains  to  Colorado  and 
California,  north  to  Greenland,  the  Arctic  Coast,  and  the  Kowak 
and  Yukon  rivers,  Alaska,  and  occurs  all  summer  in  flocks  near 
the  Pribilof  and  Aleutian  islands.  Breeds  also  in  northeastern 
Asia  and  in  Iceland.  On  the  Atlantic  Coast  occurs  south  regu- 
larly in  winter  to  Maine,  and  rarely  to  New  Jersey ;  in  the  inte- 
rior rarely  to  western  New  York,  Minnesota,  Wisconsin,  Illinois, 
Missouri,  and  Colorado;  and  on  the  Pacific  Coast  from  the 
Aleutians  to  Monterey,  California.  Frequently  taken  in  Europe 
and  in  Asia,  south  to  Japan. 

Harlequin  well  named,  this  beautiful  duck  is 
seldom  found  within  our  country.  The  Alaskan 
Indian  and  Eskimo  see  him  along  their  shores 
and  inland  lakes.  There  it  breeds  and  lives,  con- 
tent with  winter's  cold  if  left  with  open  water, 
occasionally  in  severe  weather  coming  within  the 
limit  of  the  United  States.  In  Alaska  the  harle- 
quin breeds  on  the  mountain  streams  of  the  inte- 
rior and  early  resorts  to  the  islands  of  the  coast. 
Here  about  the  Aleutian  Islands  and  at  Unalaska 
they  gather  in  large  flocks,  feeding  on  various 
shellfish  and  Crustacea.  In  June  and  through 
the  summer  they  are  found  on  the  water  near  the 
ice  and  cliffs,  floating  gracefully  on  the  surface, 
or  flying  low  in  lines,  fitting  ornaments  of  the 
wild  coast. 


Duck-shooting  159 

Instances  of  this  bird  breeding  in  the  United 
States  are  recorded.  According  to  Mr.  L.  Bel- 
ding,  several  pair  of  this  duck  breed  regularly  on 
the  Stanislaus  River,  Calaveras  County,  California. 
The  bird  was  seen  with  young  just  able  to  fly 
near  Chief  Mountain  Lake,  Montana,  by  Dr. 
Coues.  Professor  D.  G.  Elliot  saw  a  brood  of 
eight  or  nine,  in  July,  1879,  near  Wenatchee,  Wash- 
ington, on  the  upper  Columbia,  and  he  secured 
two  of  the  birds.  A  very  interesting  instance  of 
the  breeding  of  a  pair  of  harlequin  in  confine- 
ment, in  the  Melbourne  Gardens,  is  published  in 
the  Zoologist  of  1850,  by  Mr.  J.  J.  Briggs.  "Al- 
though kept  in  confinement  for  several  years, 
they  did  not  breed  until  1849.  ^n  these  grounds, 
at  a  considerable  distance  from  the  pool  where  the 
birds  had  lived,  was  an  ice-house,  against  which 
some  thatched  sheaves  had  been  placed.  Upon 
these,  sheltered  from  wet  and  sun,  at  a  height  of 
three  feet,  the  pair  nested  and  laid  eight  eggs, 
which  were  hatched  about  the  middle  of  June. 
When  the  female  left  the  eggs  she  carefully  cov- 
ered them  with  down.  After  feeding  she  was 
escorted  back  to  the  nest  by  the  male,  who, 
however,  took  no  share  in  sitting  on  the  eggs. 
Several  of  the  young  ducks  were  reared." 

Small,  swift-running  streams  are  favorite  loca- 
tions for  the  nest,  which  is  placed  on  the  bank, 
or  sometimes  in  the  hollow  of  a  tree.  In  Iceland, 


160  The  Water-fowl  Family 

where  this  bird  is  found,  nests  have  been  taken 
from  holes  in  the  bank.  The  little  brood  frequent 
the  rapids  and  pools,  playing  about  and  diving 
much  after  the  manner  of  a  dipper.  In  the 
winter  the  harlequin  occurs  in  small  numbers  off 
the  coast  of  Maine,  rarely  straggling  to  Massa- 
chusetts. It  is  taken  occasionally  in  Puget  Sound. 
The  bird  is  a  quick,  strong  diver,  and  readily 
escapes  if  wounded.  The  flesh  is  unfit  for  the 
table.  Lord  and  lady,  and  painted  duck,  are 
other  names  applied  to  this  species. 

LABRADOR  DUCK  (PIED-DUCK) 

(Camptolaimus  labradorius) 

Adult  male  —  Head,  neck,  breast,  scapulars,  and  wings,  except  pri- 
maries, white ;  stripe  on  crown  and  nape,  ring  around  lower 
neck,  back,  rump,  primaries,  upper  tail-coverts,  tail  and  entire 
lower  parts,  black ;  the  tail  has  a  grayish  tinge ;  cheeks, 
yellowish  white;  long  scapulars,  pearl-gray;  bill,  black,  slate 
along  base  of  oilmen,  and  orange  at  base  and  along  edges 
of  maxilla  and  mandible ;  eye,  reddish  brown ;  feet  and  legs, 
slate. 

Measurements  —  Length,  23  inches ;  wing,  8.70  inches  ;  oilmen, 
1.75  inches;  tarsus,  1.50  inches. 

Adult  female  —  General  plumage,  uniform  brownish  gray ;  tertials, 
silvery  gray,  edged  with  black ;  secondaries,  white,  edged  with 
black. 

Measurements  —  Length,  18  inches;  wing,  8.40  inches;  culmen, 
i. 60  inches;  tarsus,  1.40  inches. 

Young  male — Similar  to  adult  female,  with  chin  and  throat  white, 
and  in  some  specimens  breast  also;  greater  wing-coverts  are 
also  white. 

Habitat —  Formerly  the  northern  Atlantic  Coast  and  recorded  from 
Hudson  Bay;  supposed  to  breed  in  Labrador,  and  wintering 


Duck-shooting 


161 


from  Nova  Scotia  south  to  Chesapeake  Bay,  and  occurring  in 
the  interior  as  far  as  Montreal ;  now  probably  extinct.  The 
Michigan  record  was  a  mistake. 

While  always  a  rare  bird,  previous  to  1855  the 
Labrador  duck  was  taken  frequently  along  the 
Atlantic  Coast  as  far  south  as  Long  Island  and 
New  Jersey.  It  was  supposed  to  breed  off  the 
coast  of  Labrador  and  in  the  islands  in  the  Gulf 
of  St.  Lawrence.  In  1833  John  Audubon  was 
shown  deserted  nests  of  this  bird  on  the  top 
of  low  tangled  fir-bushes,  on  a  visit  to  Blace 
Sablon.  That  these  nests  belonged  to  the  Labra- 
dor duck,  however,  we  may  be  permitted  to  doubt. 
The  nest  and  eggs  are  unknown,  and  probably  no 
man  except  a  northern  savage  has  ever  seen  them. 
Nearly  all  the  specimens  have  come  from  the 
Nova  Scotian,  New  Brunswick,  and  New  England 
coasts,  although  at  times  the  birds  were  noticed 
in  New  York  markets,  probably  from  the  vicinity 
of  Long  Island  and  New  Jersey.  These  speci- 
mens were  mostly  females  and  young  males,  the 
adult  male  being  seldom  met  with.  After  1860 
the  occurrence  of  the  bird  became  exceedingly 
rare,  and  the  last  one  recorded  was  killed  by  Mr. 
Cheney  in  1871,  near  Eastport,  Maine,  In  1843 
this  bird  was  rare  on  Long  Island,  where  it  was 
known  as  the  skunk-duck,  from  the  black  and 
white  appearance  of  the  male.  The  historic  pair 
killed  by  Daniel  Webster,  at  Vineyard  Haven, 


1 62  The  Water-fowl  Family 

and  by  him  presented  to  Audubon,  are  now  in 
the  Smithsonian  Institution.  The  most  beauti- 
ful collection  of  these  birds  in  existence  is  in  the 
New  York  Museum,  where  one  case  contains  five 
finely  mounted  specimens,  two  of  which  are  adult 
males.  They  were  collected  by  Professor  D.  G. 
Elliot. 

The  Labrador  duck  was  a  strong  flyer  and 
diver,  apparently  able  in  every  way  to  protect 
itself  against  the  depredations  of  enemies,  yet  it 
has  passed  into  extinction  and  no  satisfactory 
reasons  can  be  given  for  its  disappearance.  The 
flesh  was  coarse  and  fishy.  Probably  the  breed- 
ing area  was  limited,  and  natural  causes  effected  its 
destruction. 

STELLER'S  DUCK 

(Eniconetta  stelleri) 

Adult  male — Greater  part  of  head  and  upper  neck,  glossy  white; 
lores  and  tuft  of  feathers  on  occiput,  olive-green;  chin  and 
throat,  black ;  lower  part  of  neck,  middle  of  back  and  rump,  and 
upper  tail-coverts,  glossy  black ;  long  scapulars,  blue-black  on 
outer,  and  white  on  inner  web ;  other  scapulars  bend  down 
across  the  wing ;  wing-coverts,  anterior  scapulars,  and  sides  of 
back,  white ;  speculum,  blue-black,  with  white  bar ;  under  parts, 
light  chestnut,  becoming  darker  on  the  abdomen ;  a  round, 
black  spot  on  each  side  of  the  breast  in  front  of  wing-coverts ; 
anal  region  and  under  tail-coverts,  black ;  tail,  brownish  black  ; 
bill,  slate,  yellowish  at  tip;  iris,  dark  brown;  legs  and  feet, 
brownish. 

Measurements — Length,  18  inches;  wing,  8  inches;  tarsus,  1.35 
inches;  culmen,  1.45  inches. 

Adult  female  —  Head  and  neck,  reddish  brown,  speckled  with  dusky  ; 
upper  parts,  dusky  brown,  feathers  tipped  with  lighter ;  wings 


Duck-shooting  163 

dusky ;  tips  of  greater  coverts  and  secondaries,  white,  forming 
two  narrow  bars  across  the  wing;  speculum,  purplish  brown; 
upper  parts  of  breast,  rusty,  spotted  with  black ;  bill,  slate  ;  legs 
and  feet,  brownish  ;  iris,  brown. 

Measurements  —  Length,  17.50  inches  ;  wing,  8  inches  ;  tarsus,  1.15 
inches;  oilmen,  1.40  inches. 

Young  male —  Similar  to  the  female,  but  the  speculum  is  a  dull  gray- 
ish brown  without  any  gloss ;  the  tertials  slightly  curved,  with 
no  white. 

Eggs  —  Six  to  ten  in  number,  pale  grayish  green,  and  measure  2.30 
by  i. 60  inches. 

Habitat — Found  in  summer  in  North  America,  in  Greenland,  Cum- 
berland, and  from  Point  Barrow,  Alaska,  along  the  coast  to  the 
Alaskan  peninsula,  the  Aleutian  Islands,  the  Shumagins,  and 
islands  in  Bering  Sea.  In  winter,  the  islands  in  Bering  Sea, 
the  Aleutians  south  to  the  Kenai  peninsula,  and  two  taken  in 
the  Gulf  of  St.  Lawrence.  Probably  breeds  in  most  of  its  sum- 
mer range,  as  it  does  abundantly  in  Siberia. 

The  chief  claim  this  handsome  bird  has  to  a 
residence  in  North  America  is  its  presence  on 
the  Alaskan  coast.  It  is  common  on  the  shore 
and  islands  of  Bering  Sea,  and  is  occasionally 
numerous  on  the  Aleutian  Islands  and  near  Una- 
laska.  Closely  related  to  the  eiders,  the  Steller's 
duck  is  found  in  the  Arctic  regions  associating 
with  the  king  eider.  Farther  south  it  is  some- 
times seen  among  flocks  of  Pacific  eiders.  They 
frequent  the  islands  offshore,  feeding  in  the  tide- 
rips  and  at  the  mouths  of  rivers  on  various  Crus- 
tacea and  mollusks  found  in  these  waters.  In 
May,  as  soon  as  the  ice  leaves  the  bays,  the  flocks 
separate  into  pairs.  Later  in  the  summer  they 
are  seen  in  large  flocks,  the  young  birds  and 


1 64  The  Water-fowl  Family 

females  outnumbering  the  males.  In  fall  and 
winter  they  frequent  the  open  water,  more  to  the 
south,  but  do  not  range  below  Alaska.  North 
of  Nome,  along  the  Alaskan  coast,  the  natives 
use  the  skins  for  ornaments  in  their  dress.  The 
breeding-grounds  are  on  the  northern  shores  of 
Siberia,  and  the  islands  of  Bering  Sea.  A  nest 
was  found  near  Unalaska  by  Mr.  Dall,  in  May, 
1872.  It  was  on  the  ground,  carefully  concealed 
by  slanting  grass,  and  contained  a  single  egg  of 
a  pale  green  color.  Other  ornithologists  have 
doubted  that  this  nest  was  correctly  identified. 
The  male,  after  incubation  is  established,  loses 
his  striking  plumage,  which  he  does  not  resume 
until  the  late  fall.  Like  all  the  sea-ducks  of  its 
class,  the  Steller's  duck  is  hardy  and  braves  the 
severest  storms  and  cold  of  the  North,  asking 
only  the  privilege  of  open  water. 

Steller's  duck  is  said  to  breed  by  tens  of  thou- 
sands on  the  Arctic  coast  of  Siberia,  and  to  ap- 
pear in  large  flocks  off  Bering  Islands  about 
November  i.  All  winter  they  are  common  at 
the  latter  locality,  frequenting  the  most  rocky 
parts  of  the  coast,  where  the  breakers  are  most 
violent.  In  April  their  numbers  are  enormously 
increased,  and  flocks  may  be  seen  covering  many 
acres  of  the  sea ;  but  by  the  end  of  May  all  have 
disappeared. 


Duck-shooting  165 

SPECTACLED    EIDER 

(Arctonetta  fiscJiert) 

Adult  male  —  Feathers  projecting  on  the  bill,  yellowish  white,  grad- 
ing anteriorly  into  sea-green  on  the  forehead  and  lores ;  this 
color  extends  in  a  narrow  line  along  the  crown  and  in  a  rather 
broad  stripe  beneath  the  eye  patch,  broadening  out  on  the  thick 
occipital  crest ;  the  green  is  deepest  on  the  lores,  and  on  the 
stripe  under  the  eye,  and  edge  of  crest ;  a  large  circle  of  satiny 
white  surrounds  the  eye,  covering  nearly  all  the  side  of  the  face 
and  crown,  bordered  above  and  on  either  side  by  a  narrow  line 
of  black  ;  chin,  throat,  neck,  back,  scapulars,  and  a  large  patch  on 
each  side  of  the  rump,  white ;  greater  wing-coverts,  primaries, 
and  tail,  dark  brown  ;  lower  back  and  rump,  upper  tail-coverts, 
and  breast,  dark  plumbeous,  grading  into  smoky  black  on  lower 
breast ;  bill,  orange,  palest  on  nail ;  iris,  brown,  surrounded  by 
a  bluish  ring ;  legs  and  feet,  olive-brown. 

Measurements —  Length,  21.50  inches  ;  wing,  1 1  inches  ;  tarsus,  1 .90 
inches  ;  culmen,  I  inch. 

Adult  female  —  Top  and  back  of  head,  yellowish  buff,  streaked  with 
dusky ;  a  broad  stripe  in  front  of  eyes  beginning  at  the  corners 
of  mouth  and  extending  on  to  centre  of  head ;  space  around 
eyes  and  cheeks,  buff,  streaked  with  dusky  ;  upper  parts,  barred 
coarsely  with  brown  and  black,  also  breast  and  sides  ;  remainder 
of  under  parts,  grayish  brown ;  bill,  slate  ;  legs  and  feet,  yellowish 
brown. 

Measurements — Length,  21  inches;  wing,  10.50  inches;  tarsus, 
1.75  inches;  culmen,  I  inch. 

Eggs  —  Five  to  nine  in  number,  grayish  white,  measure  2.55  by  1.75 
inches. 

Habitat —  Breeds  on  the  Alaskan  coast,  from  the  mouth  of  the  Kus- 
kokwin  to  Point  Barrow,  and  is  said  to  be  a  common  breeding 
resident  on  the  Near  Islands.  Winter  range  unknown,  probably 
the  Aleutian  Islands. 

With  a  limited  range  of  some  four  hundred 
miles  of  Alaskan  coast,  an  area  exposed  through- 
out its  entire  extent  to  the  ravages  of  natives,  the 


1 66  The  Water-fowl  Family 

spectacled  eider  is  threatened  with  extinction,  and 
is  now  rare  in  collections.  Two  specimens  of  this 
bird  were  secured  for  me  by  Mr.  Dunham,  in  May, 
1902,  both  taken  in  the  vicinity  of  St.  Lawrence 
Island,  the  only  ones  seen  on  a  collecting  trip  of 
two  months.  As  soon  as  the  ice  leaves  the  bays 
and  mouths  of  the  rivers,  the  spectacled  eider  fre- 
quents the  open  water,  along  with  the  vast  number 
of  sea-ducks,  waiting  the  opportunity  of  working 
north  to  the  breeding-grounds.  It  is  seen  usually 
singly  or  in  pairs,  rarely  in  flocks.  They  frequent 
the  muddy,  shallow  water  and  the  extensive 
marshes  that  line  the  Alaskan  coast  of  Bering 
Sea,  in  their  habits  resembling  the  commoner 
members  of  the  eider  family.  Marshes  on  the 
islands  or  remote  portions  of  the  coast  are  their 
breeding-ground.  The  nest  is  of  dry  grass,  and 
the  duck  is  devoted  to  her  charge.  During  the 
breeding-season  the  male,  after  the  custom  of 
other  eider,  moults  into  a  brown  plumage.  Later 
in  the  summer  the  birds  congregate  in  small 
flocks  offshore. 

NORTHERN    EIDER 
(Somateria  mollissima  borealis) 

Adult  male  —  Top  of  head,  black,  with  a  white  stripe  in  the  centre 
of  the  occipital  region ;  nape  and  posterior  area,  sea-green ; 
cheeks,  neck,  chin,  throat,  back,  smaller  wing-coverts,  and  a  large 
patch  on  each  side  of  rump,  pure  white ;  greater  wing-coverts 
and  secondaries,  black ;  primaries,  brown ;  lower  part  of  back 
and  rump,  upper  and  under  tail-coverts,  and  entire  under  parts 


Duck-shooting 


167 


below  breast,  deep  black  ;  breast,  cream  color ;  tail,  pale  brown ; 
bill,  legs,  and  feet,  olive-green ;  a  black  V  sometimes  found  on 
throat. 

Measurements  —  Length,  22  inches;  wing,  12  inches;  bill,  culmen, 
1.90  inches;  from  tip  to  end  of  frontal  angle,  2.75  inches; 
width  of  angle,  .30  inch ;  tarsus,  i  .80  inches. 

Adult  female —  Head  and  neck,  rufous  brown,  streaked  with  narrow 
black  lines ;  rest  of  plumage,  chestnut-brown,  the  upper  parts 
and  breast  barred  with  black ;  the  under  parts,  grayish,  with 
dusky  bars  ;  wing,  like  the  back,  with  two  whitish  bars  ;  prima- 
ries and  tail,  blackish  brown ;  bill,  legs,  and  feet  like  those  of 
the  male,  but  darker. 

Measurements  —  Similar  to  the  male. 

Downy  young —  Plain,  gray-brown,  lighter  beneath ;  a  distinct,  light, 
superciliary  stripe. 

Eggs  —  Four  to  six  in  number,  pale  green  in  color,  and  measure  3  by 
1.90  inches. 

Habitat  —  Breeds  from  Labrador  north  to  Cumberland  and  the 
coast  of  Greenland,  and  probably  in  Hudson  Bay.  Winters  in 
southern  Greenland  and  south  rarely  to  Massachusetts. 

The  eider  of  the  Atlantic  Coast  was  for  a  long 
time  supposed  to  be  identical  with  the  European 
bird,  but  two  distinct  species  are  now  separated. 
A  subspecies  of  the  European,  or  common  eider 
of  northern  Europe,  ranges  on  the  Atlantic  Coast 
of  North  America  from  Greenland  to  the  Gulf  of 
St.  Lawrence,  and  the  American  eider,  whose 
range  is  from  Labrador  to  New  England.  To 
the  native  of  the  North  the  eider  is  essential,  pro- 
viding him  with  food  and  raiment.  The  eggs  and 
flesh  are  almost  staple  articles  among  the  Eski- 
mos, while  the  down  is  part  of  his  commerce.  In 
various  parts  of  Iceland  and  Norway  these  birds 


1 68  Tbe  Water-fowl  Family 

breed  in  protected  colonies  and  become  exceed- 
ingly tame,  the  duck  allowing  herself  to  be  raised 
from  the  nest  while  the  down  is  removed.  Incu- 
bation begins  in  June,  and  lasts  about  a  month. 
In  the  late  summer  and  early  fall  they  congregate 
in  large  flocks  offshore,  frequenting  the  rocky 
islands.  Winter  drives  them  only  to  open  water. 
I  was  told  by  natives  that  in  the  winter  of  1900 
the  outer  water  about  the  Magdalen  Islands  was 
frozen  for  a  long  distance  from  shore.  Large 
flocks  of  these  ducks  congregated  on  the  ice, 
where  they  were  surrounded  and  killed  with 
sticks. 

AMERICAN    EIDER 
(Somateria  dresseri) 

Similar  in  plumage  to  the  Greenland  eider  but  differs  in  the  bill. 
The  frontal  angles  or  naked  portion  running  from  the  base  of 
the  bill  on  to  each  side  of  forehead  in  the  American  eider  are 
broad,  rounded,  and  much  corrugated,  while  in  S.  borealis 
molissima  they  are  narrow  and  smooth.  The  female  possesses 
the  same  characteristics.  Sometimes  a  black  V  similar  to  that 
on  the  Pacific  eider  occurs  on  the  throat  of  the  males. 

Measurements  are  similar  in  the  two  species  except  the  angle 
of  bill,  which  in  the  present  species  is  .45  of  an  inch  in  its 
greatest  width. 

Eggs — Four  to  eight  in  number,  olive-green  in  color,  and  measure 
3  by  i. 80  inches. 

Habitat  —  Breeds  in  Newfoundland,  and  from  Maine  north  on  the 
coast  to  Hudson  Strait,  and  south  in  Hudson  Bay  to  James 
Bay,  also  on  the  north  shore  of  the  Gulf  of  St.  Lawrence. 
Winters  in  the  Gulf  of  St.  Lawrence,  the  St.  Lawrence  River, 
and  south  on  the  Atlantic  Coast,  regularly  to  Massachusetts, 
rarely  to  Virginia;  and  in  the  interior  rarely  to  western  New 
York,  Illinois,  Wisconsin,  Michigan,  and  Colorado. 


Duck-shooting  169 

The  American  eider  has  a  more  southern  range 
than  the  northern  bird,  nesting  from  the  coasts  of 
Labrador  as  far  south  as  Maine,  where  it  summers 
on  the  rocky  islands  off  Grand  Manan,  unfortu- 
nately now  in  sadly  diminished  numbers.  Far- 
ther north  small  islands  off  the  coast,  more  rarely 
the  mainland,  afford  sites  for  their  breeding  pur- 
poses. The  nest  is  on  the  ground,  and  the  scrub 
brush  with  which  the  shores  are  lined  often  gives 
it  a  shelter.  In  the  fall  flocks  of  these  birds  gather 
far  out  in  the  open  water.  The  wild  islands 
offshore  give  them  a  resting-place  when  they 
need  one ;  storms  and  cold  do  not  worry,  and 
few  conditions  prevent  them  from  a  living.  Mol- 
lusks  and  various  shellfish  are  their  food.  In 
winter  we  see  them  off  Massachusetts,  rarely 
farther  south.  The  long  lines  of  heavy,  cumber- 
some birds,  marked  by  the  striking  black  and 
white  of  the  male,  are  unmistakable.  They  keep 
close  to  the  water  with  powerful  flight  and  pass 
on  their  way,  giving  little  heed  to  outsiders ;  strong 
and  difficult  to  bring  down,  the  wounded  bird 
readily  escapes.  Occasionally  this  species  is  found 
on  the  Great  Lakes  in  cold  winters. 

The  American  eider  is  usually  very  common 
in  winter  in  the  shallow  waters  of  Nantucket 
Sound,  and  Mr.  George  H.  Mackay  states  that 
on  March  18,  1890,  he  saw  near  Nantucket  a 
flock  containing  about  twelve  thousand  of  this 


1 70  The  Water-fowl  Family 

species.  Each  morning  at  dawn  the  eiders  appear 
in  small  flocks  at  their  feeding-grounds  to  feast 
on  mussels  and  other  shellfish  that  abound  in 
these  waters,  and  in  the  evening  fly  out  to  sea 
to  spend  the  night  far  from  land.  They  are  shot 
from  stool,  to  which  at  times  they  will  decoy  well, 
or  from  points  of  land  near  which  they  are  accus- 
tomed to  pass  in  their  morning  and  evening 
flights ;  this  latter  plan  often  proving  very  suc- 
cessful in  certain  conditions  of  the  weather,  and 
especially  just  before  they  start  north  in  April. 
At  this  time  a  roll  or  so  of  seaweed  placed  on  the 
shore,  or  a  few  dead  eiders,  will  lure  the  passing 
flocks;  at  others,  a  single  dead  duck  drifting  into 
a  flock  will  put  all  to  flight.  Sometimes  they 
will  swim  in  to  the  brant  decoys  at  Monomoy; 
and  then  their  great  skill  in  diving  is  evident, 
a  heavy  charge  fired  at  close  range  often  failing 
to  bag  a  bird.  This  bird  is  also  known  as  the  sea- 
duck,  shoal-duck,  wamp,  and  black  and  white  coot. 

PACIFIC    EIDER 

(Somateria  v-nigra) 

Adult  male  —  Similar  in  plumage  to  both  the  common  and  American 
eider,  except  that  on  the  throat  there  is  a  long  black  V  mark 
beginning  on  the  chin  and  extending  to  a  line  intersecting  the 
occiput.  The  bill  differs  from  that  of  the  other  eiders,  being 
broader  and  deeper  through  the  base  with  shorter  and"  more 
acute  frontal  angles.  The  color  of  the  bill  is  reddish  orange  at 
the  base,  grading  into  pale  orange  at  the  tip  ;  iris,  brown  ;  legs 
and  feet,  dusky  orange. 


Duck-shooting  171 

Measurements —  Length, 22  inches  ;  wing,  1 1.50  inches  ;  culmen,  2.25 
inches. 

Adult  female  —  Head,  chin,  throat,  and  neck,  pale  brown  with  dusky 
streaks,  darkest  on  the  top  of  head.  Upper  parts  rufous  with 
black  bars,  the  broadest  on  back ;  lesser  coverts,  dusky  with 
whitish  tips  ;  primaries  and  secondaries,  dark  brown  ;  breast  and 
sides,  pale  buff;  under  parts,  grayish  brown. 

Measurements  — Wing,  11.50  inches;  culmen,  1.75  inches;  tarsus, 
1.75  inches. 

Downy  young — Resembles  that  of  the  common  eider. 

Eggs  —  Five  to  seven  in  number,  light  gray-green  in  color,  and 
measure  3  inches  by  2. 

Habitat  —  In  North  America,  breeds  on  the  Aleutian  Islands  and 
the  coast  of  Alaska,  from  Cook  Inlet  north  to  Point  Barrow, 
and  eastward  along  the  Arctic  Coast  to  Franklin  Bay.  Winters 
in  Bering  Sea,  about  the  Aleutian  Islands,  and  probably  the 
southeastern  coast  of  Alaska ;  recorded  from  Great  Slave  Lake, 
Hudson  Bay,  and  Kansas.  Breeds  also  on  the  Commander 
Islands  and  in  northeastern  Siberia. 

According  to  Nelson,  these  birds  arrive  off  the 
shores  near  the  mouth  of  the  Yukon,  about  the 
middle  of  May,  choosing  for  their  nesting-places 
the  marshy  islands  in  the  adjacent  ponds.  The 
nest  is  a  depression  on  the  ground  and  is  com- 
posed of  grass  and  seaweed.  The  eggs  are  six  in 
number,  the  duck  carefully  covering  them  with 
down.  During  the  period  of  incubation  the  males 
gather  in  flocks  near  by  and  moult,  taking  on  a 
dull  plumage.  The  young  are  hatched  in  early 
July,  and  until  they  are  able  to  fly,  in  September, 
remain  on  the  smaller  bodies  of  water.  Later 
they  gather  in  large  flocks  offshore,  in  stormy 
weather  seeking  the  protection  of  the  islands  and 


1 72  The  Water-fowl  Family 

beaches,  when  they  are  frequently  killed  in  large 
numbers  by  the  natives,  for  they  seem  to  hesitate 
to  fly.  Like  the  other  members  of  its  family,  this 
species  is  a  powerful  diver  and  secures  its  food  of 
mollusks  and  Crustacea  in  deep  water.  The  flight 
is  in  lines  low  down,  the  bird  uttering  a  guttural 
note.  The  natives  depend  at  times  on  this  bird 
for  food  and  use  the  skins  for  various  ornaments. 

KING    EIDER 
(Somateria  spectabilis) 

Adult  male  —  Feathers  surrounding  the  base  of  maxilla  and  a  spot 
beneath  and  behind  the  eye,  black ;  a  large,  black,  V-shaped 
mark  on  the  throat ;  entire  top  of  head  and  upper  part  of  nape, 
delicate  pearl-blue;  upper  and  frontal  portion  of  the  cheeks 
below  the  eye,  sea-green;  remainder  of  head,  neck,  and  middle 
of  back,  smaller  wing-coverts,  and  a  patch  on  each  side  of  rump, 
white;  breast  and  jugulum,  cream-buff;  remainder  of  plumage, 
dull  black ;  bill,  flesh  color ;  sides  of  upper  mandible  and  soft, 
frontal  lores,  bright  orange ;  iris,  yellow ;  feet,  dusky  orange ; 
webs,  dusky. 

Measurements  —  Length,  23  inches;  wing,  n  inches;  culmen,  i.io 
inches;  tarsus,  1.75  inches. 

Adult  female  —  Head,  chin,  and  throat,  dark  buff,  streaked  with 
brown ;  darkest  on  top  of  head ;  breast  and  sides,  light  buff, 
with  irregular  markings ;  greater  coverts  and  secondaries,  black, 
with  whitish  tips  forming  two  narrow  bars  across  the  wing; 
rump  and  upper  tail-coverts,  dark  buff,  with  black  bars;  tail, 
black ;  under  parts,  dark  brown  ;  bill,  greenish  yellow ;  legs  and 
feet,  ochre,  with  dusky  webs ;  iris,  brown. 

Measurements  —  Length,  23  inches;  wing,  10.75  inches;  culmen, 
1.25  inches;  tarsus,  1.75  inches. 

Downy  young  —  Upper  parts,  dark  brown,  more  rufous  than  in  the 
other  eiders ;  cheeks,  throat,  and  under  parts,  buff.  Its  mark- 
ings are  more  distinct  than  in  the  young  of  other  eiders. 


Duck-shooting  173 

Eggs  —  Six  to  eight  in  number,  olive-gray  in  color,  and  measure 
2.77  by  i. 80  inches. 

Habitat  —  The  northern  part  of  the  northern  hemisphere.  In 
North  America,  breeds  from  Labrador,  rarely  Quebec,  along 
the  coast  north  to  northern  Greenland  and  the  Arctic  coasts 
at  Franklin  Bay  and  Point  Barrow.  Winters  in  southern  Green- 
land and  in  the  Gulf  of  St.  Lawrence,  south  on  the  Atlantic 
Coast,  regularly  to  New  York,  and  rarely  to  Georgia;  in  the 
interior  rarely  to  western  New  York,  Pennsylvania,  Ohio,  Wiscon- 
sin, Minnesota,  Illinois,  Ontario,  and  Alberta ;  on  the  Aleutian 
Islands,  and  recorded  once  from  California.  Occurs  also  in  the 
interior  of  Alaska,  and  in  Hudson  Bay. 

Of  all  the  eiders,  the  most  beautiful.  The 
plumage  of  the  male  king  eider,  with  his  lavender 
hood  and  delicate  sea-green  face,  is  unequalled, 
while  the  black  V  on  his  throat  is  the  mark  of 
an  aristocrat.  This  variety  keeps  farther  north 
than  the  commoner  members  of  the  family,  and 
only  in  severe  winters  straggles  within  our  reach. 
The  most  northern  shores  of  both  coasts  are 
their  resorts.  In  Alaska,  St.  Michael  seems  to 
be  the  southern  limit.  On  the  Atlantic  the  Gulf 
of  St.  Lawrence.  In  summer,  Greenland  and 
the  shores  of  the  Arctic  Sea  are  the  haunts. 
Marshes  adjacent  to  the  shore  are  the  sites 
selected  to  breed  in.  The  nest  is  a  mere  de- 
pression on  the  ground,  composed  of  grass  and 
down.  An  adult  male  of  this  species  in  the 
writer's  collection,  killed  in  August  off  the  north 
coast  of  Hudson  Bay,  has  the  brown  feathers 
still  in  the  head  and  breast,  and  is  evidently  just 


174  The  Water-fowl  Family 

coming  out  of  the  summer  plumage.  When  the 
young  fly  they  congregate  in  flocks,  often  far  off- 
shore. These  birds  are  excellent  divers  and  secure 
their  food  in  deep  water.  In  winter  small  numbers 
of  king  eiders  straggle  south  as  far  as  the  New 
England  coast.  I  have  three  specimens  of  this 
duck  killed  near  New  Haven,  Connecticut,  and 
know  of  several  others  taken  in  the  same  location. 
In  January,  1901,  a  few  of  these  birds  were  seen 
in  Branford  harbor,  Connecticut.  They  remained 
by  themselves,  paying  little  heed  to  the  scoters 
and  other  ducks.  Eventually  two  were  shot.  The 
king  eider  occasionally  visits  the  Great  Lakes. 
Most  of  the  specimens  taken  in  these  localities 
have  been  young  birds  of  the  first  year. 


AMERICAN    SCOTER 
(Oidemia  americana) 

Adult  male  —  Bill,  black,  with  a  bright  orange  base  ;  entire  plumage, 
jet-black  with  a  gloss  on  the  head  and  neck  ;  iris,  brown ;  legs 
and  feet,  brownish  black. 

Measurements  —  Length,  18  inches;  wing,  8.75  inches;  culmen, 
1.75  inches;  tarsus,  1.80  inches. 

Adult  female  —  Front,  crown,  and  back  of  neck,  dark  brown  ;  rest  of 
head  and  neck,  lighter ;  upper  parts,  sooty  brown,  with  lighter 
tips  to  feathers  ;  under  parts  of  a  grayish  cast ;  bill,  black,  normal 
in  shape  ;  legs  and  feet,  olive-brown  ;  webs,  black. 

Measurements  —  Length,  18  inches;  wing,  8.50  inches;  culmen, 
1.70  inches;  tarsus,  1.60  inches. 

Young  males,  of  the  first  year,  resemble  the  female ;  later  they  are 
distinguished  by  occasional  black  feathers  or  patches  of  black 
in  the  otherwise  brown  plumage. 


Duck-shooting  175 

Downy  young —  Upper  parts  and  breast,  dark  brown ;  lower  parts, 
lighter  brown  ;  throat,  white. 

Eggs  —  Six  to  ten  in  number ;  ivory-white,  with  pinkish  tinge  ;  and 
measure  2.60  by  1.60  inches. 

Habitat  —  Occurs  in  summer  near  Newfoundland  and  in  the  Gulf  of 
St.  Lawrence,  and  breeds  probably  in  Labrador,  and  from  Hud- 
son Bay  north  to  Franklin  Bay,  and  on  the  Bering  Sea  coast 
of  Alaska  north  to  Kotzebue  Sound,  on  the  Aleutians,  and 
islands  of  Bering  Sea.  Winters  about  Newfoundland  and 
from  Maine  south  rarely  to  Florida;  in  the  interior  rarely  to 
western  New  York,  Pennsylvania,  Ohio,  Michigan,  Wisconsin, 
Minnesota,  Illinois,  Iowa,  Nebraska,  Missouri,  Colorado,  Wyo- 
ming, and  Louisiana,  occurring  also  in  Manitoba ;  on  the  Aleu- 
tians, and  islands  in  the  Bering  Sea,  and  south  rarely  to  Santa 
Catalina  Islands,  California. 

The  American  scoter  is  found  throughout  the 
same  ranges  as  the  white-winged  scoter  and  surf 
duck,  but  nowhere  in  the  same  abundance.  In 
full  plumage,  the  male  of  this  duck  is  readily  dis- 
tinguished by  the  bright  orange  prominence  at 
the  base  of  the  bill.  The  coloring  of  the  young 
birds  of  all  three  varieties  is  more  or  less  similar ; 
distinction,  however,  can  readily  be  made  by  the 
differences  in  their  bills.  The  immature  birds  of 
this  species  are  common  on  Long  Island  Sound 
in  early  October,  but  seem  to  leave  early.  They 
are  known  as  little  gray  coots,  and  many  are  killed 
every  fall.  The  adult  male  in  this  locality  is 
decidedly  rare.  On  the  south  shore  of  Long 
Island  they  are  more  abundant  and  go  by  the 
name  of  butterbill  or  broadbill  coot.  They  are 
considered  good  eating,  although  this  reputation 


176  The  Heater-fowl  Family 

would  probably  tempt  few  besides  the  natives. 
The  birds  are  seen  in  small  flocks,  flying  close  to 
the  water,  their  characteristic  whistle  marking  the 
flight.  Anything  in  the  shape  of  decoys  attracts 
scoters,  if  only  dark  in  color,  and  in  certain  loca- 
tions strings  of  bladders  are  employed  for  this 
purpose.  This  duck  is  a  good  diver  and  when 
wounded  cares  well  for  itself,  easily  escaping. 

Throughout  the  interior  of  the  United  States 
the  American  scoter  is  an  occasional  straggler, 
but  is  found  regularly  on  the  Great  Lakes.  The 
breeding-grounds  are  about  Hudson  Bay,  and 
great  numbers  breed  off  the  Alaskan  coast.  Here 
they  frequent  the  small  bodies  of  water  a  short 
distance  inland.  The  nest  is  concealed  by  some 
overhanging  shrub  near  the  water's  edge,  and  the 
eggs  are  carefully  covered  -with  down.  At  this 
time  the  males  keep  offshore  in  flocks,  moulting 
and  preparing  for  the  return  trip  south,  while  the 
female  brings  up  the  young  brood. 

The  scoters  are  perhaps  the  least  interesting 
of  our  sea-ducks ;  yet  the  time  will  come,  and  in 
places  is  now  at  hand,  when  the  duck-hunter  will 
put  up  with  despised  "  coots  "  or  go  without. 

THE    VELVET    SCOTER 
(Otdemia  fusca) 

Adult  male  —  Bill  marked  by  a  basal  prominence  of  black  ;  edges 
of  upper  mandible  with  a  streak  on  each  side  of  nail,  black ;  the 
sides  orange ;  nail  and  part  of  the  ridge,  a  reddish  flesh  color ; 


Duck-shooting 


177 


basal  half  of  lower  mandible,  black,  the  remainder,  lake-red ; 

general  plumage,  jet-black ;  eyelids  and  spots  under  the  eyes, 

white;  speculum,  white;   iris,  white;   legs  and  feet,  carmine, 

with  black  webs. 
Measurements  —  Length,  22  inches ;  wing,  n  inches;  culmen,  1.60 

inches;  tarsus,  1.90  inches. 
Adult  female  —  General    plumage,   sooty  brown,   darkest    above ; 

speculum,  white,  no  white  spot  on  head ;  bill,  dusky ;  feet  and 

legs,  brownish  orange  ;  webs,  black. 
Young  male — Resembles  the  female  after  the  first  year;  however, 

has  traces  of  the  white  spot  under  the  eye,  and  the  bill  begins 

to  assume  the  characteristics  of  the  adult  male. 
Eggs—  Eight   to  ten   in  number;  white,   measuring  2.90   by  1.90 

inches. 
Habitat  —  Northern  portions  of  eastern  hemisphere ;  breeding  from 

Iceland  to  Bering  Straits,  accidental  in  Greenland. 

This  bird  has  all  of  the  habits  and  characteris- 
tics of  the  white-winged  scoter,  closely  resembling 
it  in  plumage,  but  is  readily  distinguished  by  the 
bill. 

The  velvet  scoter  usually  spends  the  winter  in 
the  Gulfs  of  Bothnia  and  Finland  and  in  the 
Baltic ;  but  when  very  cold  weather  turns  their 
winter  quarters  to  a  mass  of  ice,  they  appear  in 
myriads  near  Heligoland.  There  they  gather 
with  the  black  scoters  and  other  sea-ducks  on  the 
lee  of  the  ice-fields.  Large  and  clumsy,  like  our 
scoters,  they  find  it  difficult  to  rise  from  the 
water  except  against  the  wind.  They  are  willing 
to  change  their  shellfish  diet  for  something  better 
when  opportunity  offers,  Gatke  tells  us.  A  ship 
laden  with  small  gray  beans  stranded  on  the 


ijS  The  Water-fowl  Family 

coast  of  Heligoland  one  stormy  winter's  night  and 
went  to  pieces,  its  cargo  being  scattered  on  the 
bottom  in  about  ten  fathoms  of  water.  Thou- 
sands of  scoters  fed  on  these  beans  until  their 
flesh  had  entirely  lost  its  fishy  flavor,  which  ren- 
ders it,  as  a  rule,  unacceptable  to  a  civilized  pal- 
ate. These  ducks  are  caught  at  Heligoland  in 
nets  set  horizontally  in  shallow  water  so  that 
they  become  bare  at  low  tide.  Stones  are  tied 
at  the  four  corners,  which  keep  the  net  a  little 
below  the  surface  as  the  rising  tide  elevates  the 
corks.  Scoters  driving  for  their  food  through 
this  net  become  entangled,  drown,  and  are  col- 
lected at  the  next  low  water. 

While  the  females  are  incubating  the  males 
gather  in  flocks,  like  our  scoters,  and  frequent  the 
waters  of  the  bays.  The  nest  is  on  the  ground. 

WHITE-WINGED    SCOTER 
(Oidemia  deglandi) 

Adult  male —  A  small  spot  underneath  and  behind  the  eye  and  the 
speculum  of  wing,  white  ;  entire  remainder  of  plumage,  black ; 
flanks  occasionally  tinged  with  brown  ;  base  of  maxilla  with 
elevated  oilmen,  black ;  sides,  deep  red,  grading  into  orange  on 
oilmen  ;  nail,  vermilion ;  between  nail  and  nostril,  white  ;  iris, 
white  ;  legs  and  feet,  scarlet,  with  joints  and  webs,  black. 

Measurements — Length,  20  inches;  wing,  11  inches;  culmen,  1.60 
inches;  tarsus,  2  inches. 

Adult  female  —  Head,  neck,  and  upper  parts,  sooty  brown  ;  a  spot 
behind  the  ear  and  speculum  of  wings,  white ;  under  parts, 
grayish  brown ;  iris,  dark ;  legs  and  feet,  brownish  red ;  webs, 
dusky. 


Duck-shooting  \  79 

Measurements — Length,  20  inches;  wing,  10.50  inches;  culmen, 
i. 60  inches;  tarsus,  1.70  inches. 

Young  male  —  Similar  to  female. 

Downy  young  —  Upper  parts,  flanks,  and  ring  on  neck,  dusky; 
lower  parts,  white. 

Eggs  —  Six  to  seventeen  in  number,  of  a  pale  cream  color,  and 
measure  2.70  by  1.90  inches. 

Habitat  —  Breeds  from  Labrador,  probably  Newfoundland  and 
Quebec,  North  Dakota,  Assiniboia,  Alberta,  and  British  Colum- 
bia, north  to  Fort  Anderson,  Point  Barrow,  Kotzebue  Sound, 
and  St.  Michael,  Alaska.  Winters  from  Nova  Scotia  and  Quebec, 
south  rarely  to  Florida ;  in  the  interior  rather  rarely  in  migra- 
tions or  winter,  to  western  New  York,  Pennsylvania,  Ohio, 
Indiana,  Illinois,  Michigan,  Wisconsin,  Minnesota,  Missouri, 
Colorado,  Wyoming,  and  Louisiana ;  winters  also  on  Bering 
Island  and  the  Pacific  Coast  from  British  Columbia  to  San 
Quentin  Bay,  Lower  California.  Occurs  also  in  summer  in 
northeastern  Siberia,  wintering  in  Japan  and  China.  Birds  of 
this  species,  probably  barren,  occur  in  America  in  summer  as 
far  south  as  Rhode  Island,  and  Monterey,  California. 

The  most  abundant  and  well  known  of  all  our 
sea-ducks,  frequenting  both  coasts  and  also  com- 
mon on  the  Great  Lakes,  especially  Lake  Michi- 
gan. The  first  small  flocks  of  white-winged 
scoters  appear  off  New  England  in  early  Sep- 
tember, and  by  the  first  week  in  October  they 
are  present  in  large  numbers.  Long  Island 
Sound  is  a  favorite  resort,  and  in  the  fall  we 
see  countless  numbers  of  them  congregated  in 
the  open  water  offshore,  diving  a  considerable 
depth  for  the  small  coot  clams  and  shellfish 
which  constitute  their  food,  preferring  the  deeper 
water  of  the  sound  to  the  shallow  bays.  The 


i8o  The  Water-fowl  Family 

first  aggregation  is  composed  largely  of  young 
birds.  On  their  arrival,  tame,  readily  coming  to 
decoys,  hundreds  are  killed.  The  most  popular 
method  of  shooting  coots,  for  this  is  their  Yankee 
name,  is  from  a  line  of  boats.  The  mouth  of  a 
harbor  or  some  projecting  point  is  the  place 
selected,  and  with  the  first  streak  of  light  comes 
the  shooting.  A  bunch  of  birds  low  down  over 
the  water  appear  in  sight,  looking  black  and 
large ;  now  you  hear  their  soft  whistling  close  to 
the  boats,  they  rise  a  little  but  still  keep  on,  and 
the  first  shot  is  straight  overhead.  The  rear 
birds  swerve  just  enough  to  give  your  next-door 
neighbor  a  chance ;  more  lucky  than  you,  his  first 
bird  falls  with  a  heavy  splash,  but  dives  out  of 
harm's  way  and  it  is  almost  useless  to  chase  him. 
Soon  they  come  thick  and  fast,  your  gun  grows 
hot,  and  for  a  time  the  booming  of  guns  is  echoed 
and  reechoed  along  the  shores  of  the  sound. 
Occasionally  a  bird  loses  all  idea  of  sensible  direc- 
tion and  passes  over  the  entire  line,  calling  forth 
both  barrels  from  every  boat,  and  then  whistles 
by  safe  over  the  last  one :  hard  hit  likely,  but 
well  able  to  continue.  They  are  strong  and  diffi- 
cult to  kill,  seldom  giving  up  unless  mortally  hurt, 
and  then  often  diving,  not  to  reappear.  The  only 
excuse  for  killing  these  birds  is  that  somebody, 
who  knows  less  about  coots  than  you  do,  will  be 
willing  to  eat  them ;  but  this  individual  is  never 


Duck-shooting 


181 


found  but  once,  for  they  are  too  fishy  for  most 
mankind. 

All  winter  long  the  white-winged  scoter  stays 
in  the  open  water  of  Long  Island  Sound,  although 
most  abundant  in  fall  and  spring.  Many  pass 
farther  south,  where  they  frequent  the  ocean 
along  the  coast,  keeping  out  beyond  the  surf,  in 
heavy  weather  seeking  the  shelter  of  the  bays. 

These  birds  are  heavy  and  must  rise  from  the 
water  against  the  wind.  This  fact  enables  them 
to  be  sailed  on ;  as  the  craft  approaches,  the  flock 
becomes  uneasy  and  the  ducks  raise  their  necks 
as  if  taking  a  last  long  breath.  Now  they  rise 
in  a  cumbersome  way  toward  the  boat  and  sheer 
off  within  easy  range.  Shooting  from  sailing 
vessels  and  launches  is,  however,  generally  prohib- 
ited. In  April  vast  flocks  congregate,  preparatory 
to  departure,  and  by  May  a  few  only  remain.  The 
breeding-ground  is  in  Labrador  and  the  regions 
about  Hudson  Bay,  rarely  in  the  northern  United 
States,  where  it  has  been  found  in  North  Dakota. 
The  nest  is  near  water,  always  on  the  ground 
among  the  rushes  and  reeds  that  line  the  slough, 
by  which  it  is  well  concealed.  On  the  coast, 
foliage  or  brush  serve  this  same  purpose.  The 
egg  is  larger  than  that  of  any  other  duck  save 
the  eider. 

Many  of  the  white-winged  scoters  that  winter 
in  Nantucket  Sound,  Massachusetts,  are  said  to 


1 82  The  Water-fowl  Family 

migrate  in  May  westward  as  far  as  Noank,  Con- 
necticut. From  there  they  pass  in  evening,  high 
in  air,  in  a  northwest  course.  Possibly  these  are 
the  birds  that  breed  in  the  interior  from  North 
Dakota  northward.  This  species  has  many  names 
among  our  gunners,  the  best  known  being  velvet 
duck,  velvet  scoter,  white-winged  surf  duck,  black 
surf  duck,  and  coot. 

SURF    SCOTER 
{Oidetma  perspicillata) 

Adult  male  —  Large  white  patch  on  the  back  of  the  neck,  and  a 
triangular  white  spot  between  the  eyes  on  the  forehead ;  entire 
remainder  of  plumage,  black ;  bill,  striking  and  characteristic ; 
upper  mandible  at  base,  including  nostrils,  dull  crimson  chang- 
ing to  scarlet  over  the  front ;  nail,  yellow ;  on  each  side  of  the 
base  of  bill  a  large  rounded  spot  of  black,  separated  from  the 
black  feathering  above  by  a  streak  of  orange,  and  posteriorly 
by  a  narrow  line  of  crimson ;  beneath  these  black  patches  and 
in  front,  continuously  white ;  the  remainder  of  the  sides  of  bill, 
orange  ;  the  lower  mandible  similar  but  terminating  at  the  base 
irregularly  in  white;  feet,  crimson  or  orange-vermilion,  with 
joints  and  webs  black  ;  iris,  white. 

Measurements  —  Length,  21  inches;  wing,  9.25  inches;  culmen, 
1.50  inches;  tarsus,  1.70  inches. 

Adult  female  —  An  indistinct  white  patch  on  lores  and  behind  the 
ears ;  head,  neck,  and  upper  parts,  dusky ;  under  parts,  paler, 
lightest  on  abdomen  ;  bill,  black,  with  greenish  or  brownish 
tinge;  iris,  brown;  feet  and  legs,  brown,  with  black  webs. 

Measurements  —  Length,  19  inches;  wing,  9  inches;  culmen,  1.40 
inches;  tarsus,  1.40  inches. 

Young  male  —  Resembles  the  female  in  its  general  plumage,  but  the 
bill  is  somewhat  larger  and  more  colored,  and  the  white  on  the 
forehead  and  neck  posteriorly  more  marked. 

Eggs  —  Five  to  eight  in  number,  ivory-white,  with  a  pink  tinge,  and 
measure  2.45  by  1.60  inches. 


Duck-shooting 


183 


Habitat  —  Breeds  from  Labrador  and  probably  Hudson  Bay,  Great 
Slave  Lake,  and  British  Columbia,  north  to  the  Arctic  Coast  at 
Franklin  Bay  and  Kotzebue  Sound,  the  Bering  Sea  coast  of 
Alaska  and  the  Aleutian  Islands ;  occurs  also  in  Greenland  in 
summer  and  south  on  the  Atlantic  Coast  to  New  York,  and  on 
the  Pacific  to  Monterey,  California.  Winters  on  the  Atlantic 
Coast  from  Maine  to  North  Carolina  and  rarely  to  Florida  and 
Jamaica ;  on  the  Aleutian  Islands,  and  on  the  Pacific  Coast  from 
British  Columbia  at  least,  south  to  San  Qaentin  Bay,  Lower  Cali- 
fornia. Occurs  not  commonly  in  the  interior,  in  Manitoba  and 
Ontario,  and  south  to  western  New  York,  Pennsylvania,  Indiana, 
Illinois,  Michigan,  Minnesota,  Wisconsin,  Iowa,  Missouri,  Colo- 
rado, Wyoming,  and  Louisiana.  Frequently  taken  in  Europe, 
and  occurs  in  Bermuda. 

A  relative  and  intimate  companion  of  the 
white-winged  scoter,  the  surf  duck,  is  seen  under 
the  same  circumstances  on  our  coasts,  but  is  more 
common  in  the  interior,  turning  up  frequently  in 
unexpected  places.  We  see  the  first  flocks  of 
these  birds  along  the  shores  of  the  northern 
United  States  in  early  fall,  and  by  October  in 
abundance.  They  congregate  on  the  same 
feeding-grounds  with  the  other  scoters,  but 
usually  remain  by  themselves.  The  surf  duck 
is  readily  distinguished  from  the  white-winged 
scoter  by  the  absence  of  white  on  the  wings  and 
its  more  peculiarly  shaped  bill.  On  account  of 
the  white  patch  on  the  head  of  the  male,  this  bird 
often  goes  by  the  name  of  skunk-head  coot  in 
New  England  and  on  Long  Island. 

The  surf  duck  is  killed  with  decoys  and  over 
lines  of  boats  anchored  at  short  intervals  apart. 


184  The  Water-fowl  Family 

They  fly  low  down,  and  as  the  flocks  come  within 
range,  often  close  together,  affording  the  oppor- 
tunity of  killing  several  at  a  shot.  The  flight  is 
marked  by  a  shrill  whistling,  and  when  the  birds 
are  in  large  numbers  this  sound  is  heard  a  long 
distance  off.  The  flesh  is  hardly  fit  for  the  table, 
but  natives  alongshore  skin  the  young  birds  and 
eat  them.  Under  these  circumstances  much  of 
the  fishy  flavor  is  said  to  be  lost.  In  localities 
where  scoters  abound  the  feathers  are  regularly 
saved  and  readily  sold. 

Nelson  describes  a  vast  flock  of  surf  ducks 
near  St.  Michael  extending  out  to  sea  for  miles, 
and  we  find  them  on  the  Atlantic  Coast  in  con- 
siderable numbers  just  before  their  flight  north  in 
late  April.  The  regions  about  Hudson  Bay  north 
to  the  Arctic  Sea,  Sitka,  St.  Michael,  and  vari- 
ous parts  of  the  Alaskan  coast  are  their  breeding- 
grounds.  The  nest  is  on  the  ground,  well  made 
of  grass  and  concealed  under  brush  or  scrub, 
sometimes  at  a  considerable  distance  from  water. 
At  this  time  when  disturbed  the  duck  often  utters 
a  guttural  note.  At  other  times  the  birds  are 
silent.  During  the  period  of  incubation  the  males 
of  the  different  varieties  of  scoters  moult  and  for 
a  time  are  unable  to  fly,  in  this  condition,  like  many 
another  bird,  falling  victims  to  the  natives.  While 
these  species  are  perhaps  the  least  interesting  of 
our  wild  fowl,  there  is  a  certain  satisfaction  in 


Duck-shooting  185 

feeling  that  some  birds  stand  a  chance  of  surviv- 
ing man's  wantonness,  even  if  they  be  scoters. 

RUDDY    DUCK 

(Erismatura  jamaicensis) 

Adult  male —  In  full  plumage,  upper  part  of  head,  including  eye  and 
back  of  neck,  glossy  black;  sides  of  head  and  chin,  white; 
throat  and  rest  of  neck,  back,  upper  tail-coverts,  scapulars,  and 
flanks,  bright  reddish  chestnut ;  wing-coverts,  lower  back,  and 
rump,  grayish  brown;  primaries,  dull  brown,  speckled  near 
outer  edge  with  gray ;  tail,  brownish  black ;  under  parts  below 
the  upper  part  of  breast,  silvery  white,  the  hidden  portion  of  the 
feathers  being  gray  ;  the  breast  is  tinged  with  rust  color ;  under 
tail-coverts,  white ;  bill,  bright  blue ;  eyelids,  slate ;  iris,  brown ; 
legs  and  feet,  slate ;  webs,  dusky. 

Measurements — Length,  16  inches;  wing,  6  inches;  oilmen,  1.60 
inches;  tarsus,  1.20  inches. 

Adult  female  —  Upper  half  of  head,  including  eyes,  dark  brown ; 
cheeks,  lighter  brown ;  a  white  stripe  from  below  the  eye  goes 
to  the  nape ;  chin,  white ;  throat  and  neck,  brownish  gray  ;  tips 
of  feathers  on  lower  neck  in  front,  white ;  upper  parts,  dusky 
brown,  mottled  and  speckled  with  grayish  buff;  lower  parts,  sil- 
very white,  as  in  the  male ;  a  yellowish  wash  on  upper  part  of 
breast ;  sides  and  flanks  barred  with  brown ;  wings,  scapulars, 
and  tail,  dark  brown,  in  some  instances  broadly  margined  with 
gray ;  under  tail-coverts,  white ;  bill,  slate ;  legs  and  feet,  slate  ; 
webs,  dark. 

Measurements  —  Length,  15.50  inches;  wing,  5.50  inches.;  culmen, 
1.50  inches;  tarsus,  1.12  inches. 

Young  bird  in  fall  plumage  —  Top  of  head,  brown ;  chin,  throat, 
sides  of  head,  grayish  white  ;  back,  scapulars,  and  rump,  brown  ; 
under  parts,  silvery  gray,  frequently  with  tinges  of  rust. 

Downy  young — Upper  parts  and  head,  smoky  brown;  a  brownish 
white  stripe  beneath  the  eye  posteriorly ;  breast,  sooty  brown ; 
under  parts,  grayish  white. 

Eggs  —  Twelve  to  eighteen  in  number,  dull  white  in  color,  and 
measure  2.45  by  1.80  inches. 


1 86  The  Water-Jowl  Family 

Habitat  —  Breeds  in  the  West  Indies,  and  from  Guatemala,  Texas, 
and  Lower  California,  north  locally  to  Hudson  Bay,  Great  Slave 
Lake,  and  British  Columbia ;  very  rare  in  the  United  States  in 
the  breeding  season  east  of  the  Mississippi,  except  in  north- 
ern Illinois,  Wisconsin,  and  Minnesota,  but  recorded,  and  in 
several  instances  eggs  found,  in  Michigan,  Ohio,  Maryland, 
Rhode  Island,  Massachusetts,Vermont  and  Maine.  Winters  from 
New  Jersey,  Illinois,  Missouri(?),  Nevada,  and  British  Columbia, 
south  to  West  Indies,  Columbia,  and  Lower  California.  Occurs 
in  migration  on  the  Atlantic  Coast  north  to  Newfoundland,  and 
in  Bermuda. 

The  reputation  of  the  ruddy  duck  is  recent, 
and  dates  back  to  the  first  scarcity  of  red-head 
and  canvas-back  along  our  eastern  coast.  Then  a 
price  was  put  upon  its  head,  and  this  was  followed 
by  a  persecution  so  relentless  that  shortly  one  of 
the  commonest,  and  in  many  respects  most  insig- 
nificant, of  our  ducks  will  no  longer  be  known  in 
the  old  haunts.  If  it  could  only  acquire  the 
instinct  of  changing  a  diet  composed  of  the  most 
delicate  grasses  and  vegetable  matter  on  the  duck 
bill  of  fare  to  sea  food,  it  would  live  to  old  age 
unmolested  and  happy.  This  bird  has  nothing  to 
commend  it  to  sportsmen,  no  use  for  decoys,  keeps 
off  by  'itself,  and,  if  occasion  requires,  disappears 
with  the  skill  of  a  hell-diver.  How  unfortunate 
that  a  poor  duck  with  such  chances  for  peace- 
ful existence  should  be  fated ! 

The  ruddy  duck  is  exclusively  an  American 
bird,  occurring  throughout  the  United  States  and 
British  provinces  to  Hudson  Bay,  breeding  in 


Duck-shooting  1 8  7 

most  of  its  range.  The  spring  plumage  of  the 
male  is  striking,  but  in  his  dress  of  red  he  is  sel- 
dom seen.  This  bird  nests  on  the  prairie  sloughs  in 
company  with  the  red-head  and  canvas-back,  some- 
times depositing  its  eggs  in  the  nests  of  the  former, 
from  which  they  can  readily  be  distinguished  by 
their  large  size.  The  nest  is  built  of  rushes,  often 
detached  and  floating.  The  young  are  hatched 
in  July,  and  before  September  are  fledged.  We 
often  see  the  brood  remaining  on  the  ponds  when 
all  the  other  ducks  have  taken  flight,  calmly  wait- 
ing for  the  approach  of  danger,  then  sinking  out 
of  sight  like  a  grebe,  rising  to  the  surface  with 
just  its  bill  protruding.  The  ruddy  ducks  are 
well  distributed  through  the  United  States,  in 
October  occurring  inland  and  on  the  coasts,  but 
on  the  Atlantic  they  are  not  very  abundant  north 
of  Virginia.  Off  North  Carolina,  and  farther 
south,  they  are  common,  and  seen  in  all  the 
brackish  bays.  Keeping  by  themselves,  they  take 
to  wing  only  when  forced,  and  then  fly  a  short 
distance.  After  the  morning  shooting  is  over 
the  market  gunner  turns  his  attention  to  the 
boobies,  for  this  is  the  name  they  go  by,  and  well 
deserve.  A  number  of  boats  quietly  approach 
the  ducks,  gradually  rounding  them  into  some 
bay  and  lining  out  across  its  entrance ;  then  the 
birds  are  started.  Nothing  will  induce  a  ruddy 
duck  to  fly  over  land ;  it  prefers  open  water  and 


1 88  The  Water-fowl  Family 

destruction.  They  come  over  the  boats  in  ones 
and  twos  and  flocks,  low  down,  an  easy  mark. 
For  a  time  the  fusillade  is  furious,  and  many  are 
killed.  The  birds  that  escape  proceed  to  fall  into 
the  same  trap  over  again,  as  soon  as  opportunity 
offers.  Other  names  for  this  bird  are  booby, 
broadbill  dipper,  bumble-bee  coot,  salt-water  teal, 
spine-tail,  bull-neck,  steel-head. 

MASKED    DUCK 

(Nomonyx  dontinicus) 

Adult  male  —  Head,  except  nape  and  chin,  black ;  nape,  throat, 
neck,  back,  scapulars,  and  upper  tail-coverts,  dark  cinnamon; 
centre  of  feathers,  black ;  lower  back  and  rump,  dark  brown 
spotted  with  black  ;  upper  part  of  breast,  dark  cinnamon ;  sides 
darker  with  black  centres  to  the  feathers  ;  wings,  blackish  brown 
with  long,  narrow,  white  speculum  ;  under  tail-coverts,  cinnamon 
blotched  with  black ;  tail,  dark  brown,  shafts  of  feathers  black ; 
bill,  slate ;  median  line  on  maxilla,  nail  and  skin  at  base  of  chin, 
black ;  mandible,  reddish  white  ;  tip,  black. 

Measurements  —  Length,  15  inches;  wing,  5.75  inches;  culmen,  1.30 
inches;  tarsus,  I  inch. 

Adult  female  —  Top  of  head,  stripe  from  base  of  bill  through  eye  to 
occiput  and  one  from  nape  to  occiput,  black ;  rest  of  head,  buff, 
becoming  whitish  on  throat;  neck,  buff  mottled  with  brown; 
upper  parts,  black  edged  with  buff;  wings,  dark  brown;  feathers, 
tipped  with  yellowish  white ;  speculum,  white ;  tail,  dark  brown, 
under  parts  ochraceous  with  blackish  spots  on  breast,  flanks, 
and  anal  region ;  bill,  brown ;  nail,  black. 

Measurements — Length,  13  inches;  wing,  5  inches;  culmen,  1.30 
inches ;  tarsus,  i  inch. 

Young  male  —  Sides  of  head  mottled  with  buff  and  under  parts 
whitish,  otherwise  resembles  adult  male.  Still  younger  speci- 
mens resemble  female. 

Habitat  —  Breeds  in  the  West  Indies  and  tropical  America,  ranging 


Duck-shooting  189 

north  on  the  Gulf  Coast  to  the  Rio  Grande  in  Texas.  Recorded 
also  in  North  America,  from  Cedar  Lake,  Saskatchewan,  Wis- 
consin, Massachusetts,  and  Vermont ;  the  last  possibly  an  escaped 
caged  bird,  and  the  Cedar  Lake,  Saskatchewan,  bird  was  wrongly 
identified.  Occurs  in  South  America,  south  to  Argentina  and 
Chili. 

A  tropical  relative  of  the  ruddy  duck,  which  it 
resembles  in  habits.  Found  throughout  northern 
South  America  and  in  the  tropical  parts  of 
Mexico  and  Central  America.  There  are  three 
instances  of  its  occurrence  in  the  United  States: 
one,  on  the  Vermont  shore  of  Lake  Champlain, 
the  bird  being  an  adult  male;  the  second  speci- 
men was  taken  on  Rock  River,  Wisconsin,  No- 
vember, 1870,  by  Mr.  L.  Kumlein;  the  third  at 
Maiden,  Massachusetts,  in  1889. 

This  bird  frequents  the  rivers  and  lagoons  of 
its  habitat,  and  is  seen  in  pairs  and  small  flocks. 
Like  the  ruddy  duck,  it  is  an  expert  diver,  often 
swimming  with  the  head  and  a  small  portion  of 
the  back  exposed. 

The  masked  duck,  more  than  most  species, 
keeps  to  the  water,  and  when  on  dry  land  pre- 
sents an  awkward  appearance,  because  of  the  feet, 
which  are  so  far  back  as  to  disturb  equilibrium. 
The  flight  is  rapid,  close  to  the  water,  and  not 
well  sustained.  In  Trinidad  and  the  West  Indies 
this  variety  is  common,  and  while  to  a  certain 
extent  migratory,  occurs  throughout  the  yeaj% 
The  flesh  is  excellent 


CHAPTER    IV 

DUCK-SHOOTING   (CONTINUED) 

THE  MERGANSERS 
(Mergince) 

THE  mergansers  are  a  small  group  of  eight  or 
ten  species,  living  chiefly  in  the  northern  hemi- 
sphere, but  occurring  also  in  most  of  the  world. 
Their  food  is  almost  entirely  fish,  which  they 
follow  and  catch  under  the  water.  As  a  conse- 
quence they  have  a  long  and  cylindrical  bill  with 
pointed  "  teeth  "  along  the  sides  and  a  sharp  hook 
on  the  end.  Their  feet  are  webbed,  but  they  dif- 
fer from  the  river-ducks  in  having  a  small  mem- 
branous flap  on  the  hind  toe.  They  have  short 
legs,  long  necks,  a  crested  head,  and  pointed  wings, 
and  are  swift  fliers  and  capital  swimmers  and 
divers.  In  consequence  of  their  fish  diet,  their 
flesh  is  strong  and  poor  for  food,  although  they 
are  eaten  in  some  localities.  The  males  are 
handsome  birds  of  brightly  colored  plumage, — 
our  own  hooded  merganser  being,  on  the  whole, 
the  most  beautiful  of  the  group.  They  frequent 
the  lakes  and  rivers,  and  the  bays  of  the  coasts, 
seldom  occurring  in  the  centre  of  large  bodies  of 

190 


Duck-shooting  191 

water,  and  are  very  rarely  found  in  large  flocks. 
Many  of  them  breed  in  holes  in  trees,  others  lay- 
ing on  the  ground,  under  bushes,  and  close  to  the 
shore.  Occasionally  they  breed  in  colonies.  Like 
the  ducks  many  of  the  male  mergansers  wear  for 
a  few  weeks  in  summer  a  plumage  resembling 
that  of  the  female. 

An  interesting  genus  of  this  family  inhabits  the 
swift  mountain  torrents  of  the  highest  Andes 
from  Columbia  to  Chili,  and  can  swim  and  dive 
with  great  rapidity  against  the  fast-rushing  water. 
Their  bills  are  more  like  that  of  a  duck  than  those 
of  the  other  mergansers,  and  they  have  a  large 
and  sharp  spur  on  the  wing.  On  account  of  their 
habits  these  birds  are  known  as  the  torrent  ducks. 

AMERICAN    MERGANSER 

(Merganser  americanus) 

Adult  male  —  Head  and  upper  part  of  neck,  dark,  glossy  green ; 
feathers  on  nape  elongated  ;  back  and  inner  scapulars,  jet-black  ; 
rump,  upper  tail-coverts,  and  tail,  ashy  gray ;  sides  of  crissum 
and  femoral  region,  whitish,  narrowly  barred  with  slate  color ; 
neck,  white ;  breast  and  under  parts,  fine  salmon  color,  fading 
to  white  in  dried  skins;  primaries,  black;  secondaries,  white, 
edged  with  black ;  lesser  wing-coverts,  black  proximally,  white 
distally ;  inner  greater  coverts,  black,  outer,  white ;  base  of 
greater  coverts,  black,  forming  a  bar  halfway  across  the  wing ; 
bill,  vermilion,  with  culmen  and  nail,  black;  feet,  vermilion; 
iris,  red,  or  reddish  brown. 

Measurements  —  Length,  27  inches;  wing,  n  to  11.25  inches;  cul- 
men, 2  inches  ;  tarsus,  1.90  inches. 

Adult  female  —  Head,  neck,  and  occipital  crest,  reddish  brown  ;  chin 
and  throat,  white  ;  upper  parts,  gray,  edged  with  paler  and  with 


1 92  The  Water-fowl  Family 

dark  shaft  streaks ;  primaries,  black ;  speculum,  white ;  flanks, 
ash ;  lower  parts,  white,  with  a  tinge  of  buff,  fading  in  dried 
skins ;  tail,  gray ;  bill,  reddish  brown ;  oilmen,  blackish ;  feet, 
reddish  orange  ;  webs,  dusky  ;  iris,  brown. 

Measurements  —  Length,  22  inches;  wing,  9.60  inches;  tarsus,  1.80 
inches;  culmen,  1.90  inches. 

Young  male  —  With  general  characteristics  of  female,  but  larger  in 
measurement. 

Downy  young — Upper  parts,  brown,  marked  with  four  white  spots  ; 
upper  half  of  head  and  neck,  rusty  ;  rest  of  head,  neck,  and  under 
parts,  white. 

Eggs  —  Seven  to  ten  in  number,  ivory-white,  with  a  tinge  of  buff, 
and  measure  2.63  by  1.75  inches. 

Habitat  —  Breeds  from  Newfoundland,  Sable  Island  (?),  Maine,  Ver- 
mont, New  York,  formerly  Ohio,  Michigan,  Minnesota,  Iowa, 
Nebraska,  and  Washington,  and  south  in  the  mountains  to  Penn- 
sylvania, New  Mexico,  Arizona,  and  California,  north  to  Labra- 
dor, Great  Slave  Lake,  probably  Fort  Anderson,  Fort  Yukon, 
and  the  Queen  Charlotte  Islands.  Winters  from  New  Bruns- 
wick, Vermont  rarely,  Ontario,  Wisconsin,  Kansas,  Colorado, 
Idaho,  British  Columbia,  and  the  Aleutian  and  Pribilof  islands, 
south  to  Florida,  Louisiana,  Texas,  northern  Mexico,  and  Cali- 
fornia. Occurs  in  Bermuda. 

Fond  of  the  sport  and  a  clever  fisherman,  but 
no  respecter  of  a  six-inch  law,  the  American  mer- 
ganser knows  every  trout  stream  and  lake  from 
northern  New  England  to  as  far  north  as  trout 
streams  flow.  In  July  we  see  the  female  with  her 
little  brood  on  the  secluded  lakes  and  rivers. 
They  were  bred  in  the  hole  of  some  tree  not  far 
from  water,  and  since  the  time  the  old  duck  car- 
ried them  to  the  ground  in  her  bill  they  have 
been  learning  merganser  manners,  and  now  are 
well  skilled  in  diving,  hiding,  and  scooting  along 


Duck-shooting  193 

the  water.  The  mother  is  a  devoted  parent  and 
is  often  seen  with  a  little  one  on  her  back.  When 
danger  threatens  they  scatter  and  disappear,  the 
old  bird  keeping  close  until  she  can  call  them  to 
a  place  of  safety.  In  late  August  and  September 
they  are  full-fledged  and  congregate  with  other 
families,  forming  a  respectable  flock.  When 
startled,  they  run  along  the  surface  of  the  water, 
flapping  their  wings  with  much  noise  and  commo- 
tion, on  account  of  which  habit  the  bird  often 
goes  by  the  name  of  steamboat.  In  October  and 
November  the  American  merganser  appears 
along  our  coast  and  inland,  frequenting  the  open 
rivers  and  lakes,  remaining  until  the  last  ice  hole 
is  closed,  under  these  circumstances  keeping  well 
fed  and  fat.  I  noticed  one  winter  that  among  a 
number  of  ducks  killed  in  a  freeze-up  these 
birds  were  the  only  ones  in  good  condition. 
Their  crops  were  gorged  with  little  eels.  We 
often  see  them  in  bays  near  the  mouths  of  rivers, 
keeping  pretty  much  their  own  company  and 
feeding  on  the  schools  of  small  fish  abounding  in 
these  places,  the  bird  when  wounded  often  eject- 
ing what  it  has  swallowed.  The  flight  is  strong 
and  they  are  hard  to  kill,  carrying  away  a  heavy 
charge  of  shot;  if  wing  broken,  diving  quickly 
and  swimming  a  long  distance  under  water. 
When  freshly  killed  the  bright  salmon  color  of 
the  breast,  in  the  male  bird,  is  a  striking  feature 


194  The  Water-fowl  Family 

of  his  plumage.  In  the  spring  the  American 
merganser  is  fond  of  the  smaller  rivers  and 
streams,  swimming  through  the  rapids  without 
hesitation,  diving  for  his  food  in  the  pools.  We 
get  our  last  glimpse  of  him  in  April.  Other  names 
for  this  species  are  American  sheldrake,  pond 
sheldrake,  goosander,  saw-bill,  breakhorn,  and 
fisherman. 

RED-BREASTED    MERGANSER 

(Merganser  serrator) 

Adult  male  —  Head  and  occipital  crest  of  lengthened  feathers,  dark 
glossy  green  with  purple  reflections ;  neck  immediately  below, 
white  in  the  form  of  a  collar  with  a  black  streak  posteriorly ; 
upper  part  of  breast,  buff  streaked  with  black ;  under  parts, 
white ;  back  and  inner  scapulars,  glossy  black  ;  lower  back  and 
rump,  gray  with  black  and  white  mottling ;  primaries,  dark 
brown ;  wing,  mostly  white  crossed  by  two  black  bars ;  on  the 
sides  of  the  breast,  in  front  of  shoulder,  is  a  patch  of  white 
feathers,  bordered  with  black ;  flanks,  finely  barred  with  lines 
of  gray  and  black ;  tail,  dark  gray ;  bill,  carmine  with  dusky  cul- 
men ;  nail,  yellowish  ;  legs  and  feet,  red ;  iris,  reddish  orange  or 
carmine.  The  distance  from  nostril  to  nearest  feather  on  head 
less  than  the  height  of  bill  at  base  in  both  sexes.  This  is  a 
point  of  certain  distinction  between  this  and  the  preceding 
species. 

Measurements  —  Length,  22.50  inches;  wing,  8.70  inches;  tail,  4 
inches;  tarsus,  1.80  inches;  oilmen,  2.40  inches. 

Adult  female  —  Head,  neck,  and  crest,  cinnamon-brown  ;  throat  and 
lower  parts,  white ;  sides,  gray ;  upper  parts,  dark  gray  edged 
with  pale  gray,  feathers  with  darker  shafts ;  white  patch  qn  the 
wing  divided  by  a  black  bar ;  bill,  legs,  and  feet,  reddish  brown  ; 
iris,  brown. 

Measurements  —  Length,  20  inches;  wing,  8.50  inches;  tarsus,  1.50 
inches  ;  culmen,  2.20  inches. 


Duck-shooting  195 

Young  male —  Similar  to  female  ;  chin  and  throat,  pale  reddish  ;  lower 
neck  and  upper  part  of  breast,  brownish ;  white  space  on  wing 
marked  by  a  black  bar. 

Downy  young —  Upper  parts,  top  of  head  and  neck,  brown ;  sides 
of  head  and  neck,  rusty ;  lower  parts,  yellowish  white,  and  a 
white  patch  on  each  side  of  back  and  rump. 

Eggs  —  Eight  to  twelve  in  number,  creamy  buff,  and  measure  2.55 
by  i. 80  inches. 

Habitat  —  Northern  portion  of  northern  hemisphere.  Breeds  in 
North  America  from  Sable  Island,  Maine,  Ontario,  Michigan, 
Minnesota,  Illinois,  Manitoba,  Alberta,  Utah,  probably  Idaho, 
and  British  Columbia,  north  to  the  Aleutians,  the  western  and 
Arctic  Coast  of  Alaska,  Fort  Anderson,  Cumberland,  and  Green- 
land south  of  73°,  chiefly  near  the  coast  or  on  large  lakes. 
Winters  in  south  Greenland  and  the  Commander  Islands,  and 
in  the  United  States  chiefly  along  the  coast,  from  Maine,  Ohio, 
Illinois,  Wisconsin,  Minnesota,  Colorado,  Nevada,  and  Washing- 
ton, south  to  Lower  California,  Louisiana,  and  Florida.  Occurs 
also  in  Bermuda  and  Hawaii. 

The  range  of  this  bird  is  wide ;  it  is  found  along 
both  coasts  from  the  Arctic  regions  to  the  south- 
ern limits  of  the  United  States,  and  rather  prefers 
shore  resorts  to  those  inland.  The  red-breasted 
merganser  breeds  from  our  northern  boundary  to 
Alaska  and  Hudson  Bay.  It  is  common  as  far 
north  as  the  Aleutian  Islands,  and  the  natives 
here  consider  the  rank  and  fishy  flavor  of  its  flesh 
a  delicacy.  The  nest  is  placed  in  the  marshes 
near  the  coast  on  the  islands  or  mainland,  care- 
fully hidden  on  the  ground  among  the  rushes  and 
reeds.  The  eggs  are  well  covered  up  with  down. 
We  see  the  little  ducklings  in  July,  and  if  sur- 
prised they  quickly  hide,  perhaps  betraying  their 


196  The  Water-fowl  Family 

presence  by  a  lonely  peep  in  answer  to  the  dis- 
tressed cry  of  the  old  bird  as  she  circles  around 
near  by.  They  are  hardy  and  soon  able  to  shift 
for  themselves,  running  and  flapping  over  the 
water  exactly  as  the  goosander  or  American  mer- 
ganser. They  fly  in  September  and  follow  the 
coast  in  their  migration,  frequenting  the  shallow 
bays  and  lagoons  alongshore,  often  following  up 
the  larger  rivers.  Mergansers  do  not  care  espe- 
cially for  the  companionship  of  other  ducks,  and 
we  see  them  in  flocks  alone,  perhaps  feeding  on 
some  school  of  fish  which  they  ravenously  pursue 
and  devour.  They  fly  in  a  line  and  have  a  pecul- 
iar habit  of  depressing  the  neck  and  head,  when 
their  attention  is  attracted  by  anything  in  the  line 
of  flight.  The  ideas  of  the  red-breasted  mergan- 
ser on  the  subject  of  a  winter  resort  vary.  Some 
stay  through  the  coldest  weather  along  the  New 
England  coast,  others  push  on  to  Florida;  many 
loiter  between.  The  male  of  this  species  is  very 
showy ;  his  green  hairy  crest  and  handsome  body 
markings  rank  him  well  as  a  stylish  bird.  Not 
persecuted  for  the  market  and  careful  to  mind 
their  own  affairs,  this  species  might  well  set  ex- 
amples to  the  more  popular  members  of  our 
wild-fowl  family.  This  bird  is  also  known  as  the 
sheldrake,  salt-water  sheldrake,  fishing-duck,  and 
hairy  crown. 


Duck-shooting 


197 


HOODED    MERGANSER 
(Lophodytes  cucullatus) 

Adult  male — Head  and  neck,  back,  and  scapulars,  black;  crest, 
black  anteriorly ;  posteriorly  white,  with  narrow  black  border ; 
wing-coverts,  dark  gray,  grading  into  lighter  posteriorly ;  tertials, 
black,  with  central  band  of  white ;  wing,  rump,  and  tail,  dark 
brown ;  in  front  of  the  wing,  on  the  sides,  are  two  black  and 
two  white  crescent-shaped  bars  ;  flanks,  grayish  brown,  becom- 
ing reddish  toward  the  tail,  undulated  with  fine  black  lines ; 
under  parts,  pure  white ;  under  tail-coverts,  dusky  ;  bill,  black ; 
legs  and  feet,  yellowish  brown ;  iris,  yellow. 

Measurements — Length,  18  inches;  wing,  7.50  inches;  tail,  4.20 
inches;  tarsus,  i.io  inches;  culmen,  1.50  inches. 

Adult  female  —  Head,  neck,  and  upper  parts,  light  brown;  crest, 
darker ;  back  and  tail,  dark  brown ;  throat  and  under  parts, 
white ;  flanks,  grayish  brown ;  wing,  brown,  with  white  patch 
crossed  by  dark  bar;  bill,  black,  with  yellowish  edge;  feet, 
light  brown ;  iris,  hazel. 

Measurements  —  Length,  16.50  inches;  wing,  7.20  inches;  tarsus, 
i. 20  inches;  culmen,  1.50  inches. 

Young  male  —  Head  and  neck,  light  brown,  with  more  or  less  black 
mottling ;  crest,  brownish  white,  with  brown  edge ;  upper  parts, 
dark  brown,  tipped  with  lighter ;  wings,  rump,  and  upper  tail- 
coverts,  dark  brown ;  a  few  of  the  tertials  with  stripe  of  white  ; 
upper  breast,  dusky  gray ;  lower  breast  and  abdomen,  white. 

Downy  young  —  Upper  parts,  brown,  darkest  on  back;  lower  por- 
tions of  head  and  throat,  light  buff;  a  light  grayish  spot  on  each 
side  of  back  and  rump ;  breast,  pale  brown ;  abdomen,  white. 

Eggs  —  Eight  to  twelve,  pure  white,  and  measure  2.10  by  1.70 
inches. 

Habitat — Breeds  from  Florida,  Mississippi,  Louisiana,  Colorado, 
probably  Nevada,  and  Oregon,  north  locally  to  Labrador,  On- 
tario, Hudson  Bay,  Saskatchewan,  and  northern  British  Colum- 
bia. Winters  from  Massachusetts,  New  York,  Indiana,  Illinois, 
Minnesota,  Kansas,  Colorado,  and  British  Columbia,  south  to 
Lower  California,  Mexico,  the  Gulf  states,  and  Cuba.  Rare  in 
the  northeastern  part  of  its  range.  Recorded  from  St.  Michael, 
Alaska,  and  from  Europe  and  Bermuda. 


198  The  Water-fowl  Family 

A  flash  of  black  and  white,  and  he  is  gone. 
When  other  ducks  have  stopped  flying,  and  you 
still  stay  in  the  blind  not  watching  all  directions 
as  carefully  as  in  the  early  morning,  suddenly 
there  is  a  sensation  of  something  around  and  you 
catch  a  glimpse  of  this  freak  streak,  too  late  to  do 
anything  more.  He  came  and  went  as  only  a 
hairy  crown  can.  This  is  the  name  he  goes  by 
along  many  parts  of  our  coast,  although  his  wide 
distribution  and  stunning  plumage  have  given 
him  a  number  of  others,  and  he  is  variously 
called  water-pheasant,  hairy-head,  cotton-head, 
pond-shell  drake,  and  spikebill. 

The  hooded  merganser  breeds  along  most  of 
its  range,  from  Florida  north,  but  more  commonly 
from  the  northern  United  States  throughout  the 
fur  countries.  The  nest  is  placed  in  a  hollow 
tree  often  twenty  feet  from  the  ground,  near  a 
stream  or  along  the  shore  of  some  lake,  occa- 
sionally at  a  considerable  distance  from  water. 
The  birds  fly  through  the  woods  and  light  on  a 
tree  with  speed  and  grace.  An  interesting  in- 
stance is  recorded  by  Mr.  Boardman  of  where 
a  female  wood  duck  and  a  female  hooded  mer- 
ganser contested  for  the  possession  of  a  nesting- 
place  in  the  hollow  of  a  tree ;  later  the  nest  was 
found  to  contain  eighteen  fresh  eggs,  about  a 
third  belonging  to  the  merganser.  The  brood  is 
first  seen  in  late  June,  when  the  young  are  scarce 


Duck-sbooting  199 

the  size  of  bantam  chicks.  They  keep  close  to 
the  mother  and  feed  on  what  she  selects,  seeds 
and  grubs;  later  on  she  fishes  for  them.  By 
early  fall  they  all  take  flight,  and  hurry  south. 
We  see  them  on  our  New  England  coast  in  spare 
numbers  by  late  September,  though  in  the  South 
more  commonly.  Throughout  the  interior  they 
are  well  known  on  the  marshes  of  most  of  our 
lakes  and  rivers.  The  hooded  merganser  fre- 
quents the  brackish  bays  of  our  Southern  states ; 
here  creeks  and  ponds  in  the  marshy  islands  are 
the  spots  he  loves.  We  see  him  in  a  small,  select 
flock  or  with  his  little  brown  mate,  keeping 
mostly  by  themselves ;  in  places  where  protection 
is  afforded  quickly  showing  their  appreciation  of 
it,  and  becoming  gentle.  As  the  male  swims 
lightly  on  the  water,  he  is  an  ornament  of  beauty 
unsurpassed ;  if  startled,  springing  into  the  air 
and  flying  low  and  fast  with  unusual  speed. 
Few  birds  deserve  more  consideration  for  their 
good  looks.  Long  may  he  live ! 

SMEW 

(Mergus  albellus) 

Adult  male  —  Plumage,  white  ;  a  patch  at  the  base  of  the  bill,  includ- 
ing lores  and  eyes,  lower  portion  of  crest,  middle  of  the  back, 
two  crescentric,  narrow  lines  on  the  side  of  the  breast  and  outer 
edge  of  the  scapulars  and  rump,  black,  with  greenish  reflections 
on  the  head ;  upper  tail-coverts,  gray ;  middle  wing-coverts, 
white  ;  greater  coverts,  black,  tipped  with  white  ;  tail,  dark  gray  ; 
sides  and  flanks  marked  with  fine,  black,  wavy  lines  on  a  gray 


200  The  Water-fowl  Family 

ground  ;  bill,  slate ;  nail,  lighter ;  iris,  light  gray ;  legs  and  feet, 
slate  color,  with  dark  webs. 

Measurements  —  Length,  16.75  inches;  wing,  7.60  inches;  culmen, 
1.25  inches;  tarsus,  1.12  inches. 

Adult  female — Head  and  neck  posteriorly,  chestnut-brown;  lores 
and  cheeks,  darker;  throat  and  sides  of  neck,  white;  upper 
parts,  brownish  gray,  darkest  on  the  rump  ;  jugulum,  slaty  gray  ; 
sides  and  flanks,  brownish  gray ;  under  parts,  white ;  tail, 
brownish  gray. 

Downy  young — Upper  parts  with  sides  of  head  below  eye,  including 
back  of  neck,  blackish  brown ;  white  spots  below  eye,  at  wing 
joint,  on  side  of  back,  and  side  of  rump;  breast  and  flanks, 
grayish  brown  ;  rest  of  lower  parts,  white. 

Habitat  —  Breeds  in  northern  Europe  and  Asia,  occurring  in  migra- 
tion east  to  the  Commander  Islands.  Winters  south  to  the 
coasts  of  the  Mediterranean,  northern  India,  China,  and  Japan. 
Recorded  from  northern  North  America  and  by  Audubon  from 
Louisiana. 

A  female  of  this  bird,  in  the  British  Museum, 
purchased  from  the  Hudson  Bay  Company,  and 
a  female,  obtained  by  Audubon  in  Louisiana,  in 
1817,  are  the  two  instances  of  the  occurrence  of 
the  smew  in  North  America. 

The  smew  has  many  of  the  habits  of  our 
hooded  merganser,  frequenting  chiefly  rivers  and 
lakes,  seldom  occurring  in  large  flocks,  and  nest- 
ing in  hollow  trees.  In  summer  it  occurs  as  far 
north  as  the  Kola  Peninsula,  Russia,  the  Yenisei 
River,  Siberia,  and  Kamchatka.  In  England  the 
adult  male  is  known  as  the  white  widgeon,  and 
females  and  young  males,  in  Devonshire,  as  vare 
widgeon,  from  a  fancied  resemblance  to  the  head 
of  a  weasel  there  called  vare. 


Interbreeding  201 


INTERBREEDING 

When  we  consider  the  close  relationship  exist- 
ing between  many  of  our  wild  fowl,  it  seems  re- 
markable that  evidences  of  interbreeding  are  not 
more  often  observed.  Many  species  utilize  a 
common  breeding-ground  and  follow  the  same 
migratory  courses  to  the  winter  haunts.  Among 
the  fresh-water  ducks  certain  different  varieties 
are  prone  to  associate,  notably  the  mallard,  shov- 
eller, teal,  and  pintail.  In  a  limited  area  the  black 
duck  breeds  in  the  territory  of  the  mallard. 
From  the  general  similarities  of  these  two  species 
it  is  natural  to  expect  the  commonest  hybrids 
would  be  between  the  black  duck  and  mallard, 
and  this  is  the  case.  Crosses  between  the  two 
are  known  to  most  sportsmen  of  experience. 
The  marshes  of  Ontario  and  the  coast  to  the 
south  of  the  Chesapeake  have  afforded  numerous 
instances  of  this  hybrid,  and  in  parts  of  Ontario 
it  is  incorrectly  known  as  the  black  mallard.  The 
writer  recently  saw  a  fine  specimen  of  black  duck 
and  mallard  cross  killed  in  North  Carolina;  it 
resembled  the  black  duck,  but  had  distinct  mal- 
lard markings.  Other  hybrids  resemble  the 
mallard.  The  green  feathers  of  the  head  and 
the  recurved  feathers  of  the  tail  are  often  notice- 
able. Two  instances  of  this  hybrid  are  described 
under  the  "mallard."  As  would  be  expected, 


202  The  Water-fowl  Family 

they  do  not  differ  materially  in  size  from  either 
species.  The  mallard  is  by  far  the  commonest 
duck  to  interbreed,  possibly  owing  to  its  wide- 
spread distribution  ;  and  next  to  the  cross  between 
mallard  and  black  duck  we  find  several  instances 
of  a  hybrid  between  mallard  and  muscovy  — 
specimens  of  which  are  likewise  described  under 
"  mallard."  The  muscovy  duck  in  North  America 
is  a  tropical  and  subtropical  species,  seldom,  if 
ever,  coming  into  the  United  States.  The  hy- 
brids therefore  are  probably  those  of  the  wild 
mallard  with  the  domestic  muscovy.  Mallard 
and  pintail  are  also  responsible  for  hybrids,  and 
there  are  several  striking  instances  of  this  cross. 
Several  years  since  in  October  a  number  of  mal- 
lard and  pintail  hybrids  were  killed  at  the  Long 
Point  Club,  evidently  all  members  of  the  same 
brood.  Specimens  of  a  cross  between  mallard  and 
gadwall  and  mallard  with  widgeon  are  recorded, 
and  an  interesting  instance  of  a  pintail  and  teal 
hybrid  as  well  as  a  red-head  and  wood  duck.  The 
hybrid  is  supposed  to  be  larger  than  either  parent, 
a  rule  which  is  more  noticeable  the  more  dissimilar 
the  species.  There  was  at  one  time  a  specimen 
in  the  collection  at  Princeton  of  a  supposed  hy- 
brid between  mallard  and  brant  which  was  con- 
siderably larger  than  a  brant,  and  as  ungainly  as 
might  be  supposed.  Another  class  of  ducks  in- 
timately associated  in  their  breeding-grounds  are 


Interbreeding  203 

the  canvas-back  and  red-head.  These  birds  breed 
in  the  more  open  ponds,  and  it  is  not  uncommon 
to  find  eggs  of  the  red-head  in  the  nest  of  the  can- 
vas-back and  vice  versa;  the  egg  of  the  ruddy 
duck  is  also  occasionally  found  in  the  nests  of 
both  the  former.  Hybrids  between  these  varie- 
ties are  not  to  the  knowledge  of  the  writer  on 
record.  A  cross  between  canvas-back  and  ruddy 
duck  might  be  a  good  thing  for  a  bill  of  fare,  but 
it  would  certainly  be  an  oddity  in  the  duck  line. 
Some  of  the  rarer  varieties  of  ducks  are  not  un- 
frequently  mistaken  for  hybrids ;  this  is  specially 
true  in  the  case  of  the  European  widgeon,  an 
occasional  straggler  to  our  shores,  where  it  is 
often  thought  to  be  a  cross  between  a  red-head 
and  a  widgeon,  and  is  called  the  red-headed  widg- 
eon. The  ring-necked  duck,  rare  in  localities, 
among  many  of  our  gunners  goes  by  the  name  of 
bastard  broadbill,  and  doubtless  is  so  considered. 
Among  the  geese  the  best  instance  of  interbreed- 
ing is  in  the  cross  between  the  Canada  goose  and 
the  domestic.  This  hybrid  possesses  most  of  the 
characteristics  of  the  wild  bird.  It  is  regularly 
barren,  but  a  superior  bird  for  the  table.  There 
is  no  better  demonstration  of  the  provision  of  nature 
for  its  own  than  in  the  preservation  of  species.  In 
all  probability  eggs,  the  result  of  interbreeding, 
are  less  often  fertile  than  under  ordinary  circum- 
stances, and  hybrids  are  regularly  barren. 


204  The  Water-fowl  Family 

Albinism  is  not  uncommonly  noticed  among 
the  ducks,  and  albinos  of  many  of  the  varieties 
have  at  one  time  or  another  come  under  the 
writer's  observation.  An  interesting  instance  of 
this  was  noticed  several  years  ago ;  in  a  brood  of 
young  mergansers,  two-thirds  grown,  there  were 
two  perfectly  white  birds  which  were  subsequently 
secured.  During  the  past  fall  a  white  teal  was 
seen  on  the  marshes  near  Port  Rowan,  and  a  year 
ago  a  white  pintail  was  killed  in  the  same  locality. 
Partial  albinism  is  naturally  more  common  than 
complete,  and  there  seem  to  be  in  all  albinos  cer- 
tain parts  that  do  not  entirely  lose  the  character 
of  their  coloring,  such  as  the  feathers  of  the 
speculum.  Probably  few  albinos  among  our 
water-fowl  escape  observation  at  one  time  or 
another,  and  in  more  than  one  instance  birds 
marked  in  this  unusual  way  have  demonstrated 
the  fact  that  the  migratory  courses  vary  but  little. 


CHAPTER  V 

GOOSE-SHOOTING 
ON  THE  BAYS 

IN  dealing  with  the  wild  goose  the  gunner  is 
confronted  with  a  bird  of  extraordinary  cunning ; 
accustomed  to  man's  methods  from  his  gosling 
days,  the  older  he  gets  the  wiser  he  grows.  His 
undoing  on  occasions  is  due  to  the  fact  that  some 
of  his  relatives  make  shrewd  decoys,  and  as  such 
have  no  conscience  about  making  trouble  for  the 
unshot  members  of  the  race.  Probably  the  patri- 
archs of  learning  and  wisdom  in  the  decoy  line 
come  from  down  east,  Boston  way.  In  one  or 
two  of  the  clubs  there  Canada  geese  are  actually 
trained  to  fly  among  the  wild  flock  and  bring  it 
toward  the  blind,  where  a  welcome  chorus  from 
the  live  decoys  greets  the  strangers  and  alluring 
honks  bring  them  in.  On  Long  Island  there  are 
a  few  stands  of  live  decoys,  but  Canada  geese  are 
not  as  regular  in  their  sojourn  here  as  farther 
south.  In  the  brackish  bays  of  North  Carolina 
they  winter,  vast  hordes  of  them  ;  but  even  with  all 
the  gunning  this  country  is  infested  with,  compar- 
atively few  fall  victims.  In  the  ordinary  weather 

205 


206  The  Water-fowl  Family 

of  fall  and  winter  it  is  hardly  worth  while  to 
waste  much  time  on  Canada  geese,  but  when 
wind  and  storm  drive  the  flocks  low  down  under 
the  lee  of  land  the  chance  is  afforded. 

The  Currituck  Club  is  the  club  for  geese,  and 
here  many  are  killed  every  year.  They  have  the 
habit  of  leaving  the  quiet  shelter  of  the  bay  for 
the  ocean,  where  they  spend  the  day,  crossing  the 
outer  bars  and  dunes  on  the  journey  back  and 
forth,  often  low  down,  coming  close  to  the  inner 
shore  on  these  trips.  Here  sink  boxes  are  placed 
in  the  more  favorable  locations ;  when  storm- 
driven  the  restless  flocks  lead  to  and  fro,  seeking 
in  vain  a  shelter.  This  is  the  chance,  and  it 
doesn't  come  often.  Eight  or  ten  trusted  honkers 
from  the  goose  pen  at  the  club  are  boxed  up.  A 
large  swan  goes  along,  too,  for  luck.  These  are 
taken  to  the  blind  and  carefully  tethered  on  the 
flat,  or  if  in  shallow  water  a  platform  is  driven 
just  under  the  surface,  as  swimming  all  the  time 
gets  monotonous.  The  sink  box  is  now  put  in 
shape,  —  it  likely  needs  bailing  out,  the  edge 
probably  requires  a  little  tinkering,  —  some  sand 
is  thrown  up  around  the  front,  or  possibly  sea- 
weed and  sedge ;  then  every  vestige  that  could 
arouse  suspicion  is  removed.  If  everything  is 
favorable,  and  it's  mighty  seldom  it  is,  the  gunner 
hasn't  long  to  wait.  Likely  the  first  intimation  of 
anything  out  of  the  ordinary  will  be  a  honk  from 


Goose-shooting  207 

some  watchful  decoy  and  successive  honks  from 
a  few  others,  as  their  attention  is  roused  to  the 
possibility  of  callers.  Very  often  all  this  before 
a  sound  has  been  heard  or  a  bird  seen ;  but  soon 
a  far-off  honk  makes  it  evident  there  are  sharper 
eyes  than  a  gunner's.  What  the  man  with  the 
gun  wants  to  do  now  is  to  keep  his  stomach 
pretty  close  to  the  ground,  stay  very  insignificant- 
like  in  his  box,  and  trust  his  business  in  the  hands 
of  others;  they  attend  to  it  well.  Excitement 
prevails  outside  and  the  distant  honks  grow 
nearer;  they  are  coming  right  along,  now  with 
long,  low  groans  of  satisfaction  at  the  thought  of 
companions  and  a  rest.  What  sort  of  sensations 
the  man  in  the  box  has  been  having  only  he 
knows  who  has  been  there.  To  most  men  under 
these  circumstances  desire  gets  the  better  of  dis- 
cretion, and  sooner  or  later  it  becomes  irresistible. 
He  just  raises  his  eyes  over  the  edge,  and  in  this 
particular  instance  sees  six  geese,  too  near  for 
comfort.  Close  together,  the  poor  frightened 
things  get  closer,  and  at  the  shot  two  thump  the 
ground  pretty  hard;  the  second  barrel  winds  up 
matters  for  a  third ;  the  other  three  have  changed 
their  mind  about  friendly  geese  and  are  striking 
out  for  Florida.  The  decoys  are  happy ;  it  is  the 
old  story  of  misery  loves  company.  Things  don't 
always  connect  in  just  this  kind  of  a  way. 

Geese,  though  a  good  big  mark,  can  be  missed, 


208  The  Water-fowl  Family 

and  under  all  circumstances  are  hard  to  kill. 
Their  size  often  causes  the  distance  to  be  mis- 
judged. The  man  in  the  present  instance  who 
is  fortunate  enough  to  be  in  this  blind  at  Curri- 
tuck  on  a  good  goosing  day,  has  had  some  expe- 
rience, and  he  allows  most  of  the  birds  to  keep 
coming  when  they  once  start.  Several  times 
since  the  first  chance  he  has  stopped  two  out  of 
the  small  flocks  that  have  come  his  way  and  has 
piled  up  some  twenty  birds.  A  large  flock,  low 
down,  leads  toward  the  blind.  Such  honking,  a 
bedlam !  Finally,  as  they  are  about  to  turn  in, 
an  old  gander  raises  his  voice  above  the  others ; 
something  has  caught  his  eye,  he  swings  the  whole 
mass  around  and  heads  them  for  the  middle  of 
Currituck  Bay.  The  end  goose  comes  in  a  bit  too 
far,  and  with  the  shot  he  makes  just  twenty-one. 

But  what  of  the  swan?  Tied  to  his  stake  he  has 
enjoyed  the  performance  of  the  morning  as  much 
as  the  geese,  though  he  hasn't  honked  out  any 
sentiments.  On  this  particular  day  he  earns  his 
salt,  for  along  toward  noon  three  swans,  an  old 
bird  and  two  cygnets,  see  him  and  come.  They 
don't  make  any  noise  about  it,  but  the  geese  honk 
away ;  and  when  they  are  straight  overhead  a  gun 
cracks  twice,  one  of  the  cygnets  closes  up  and 
falls  on  hard  ground  with  an  everlasting  big  thud. 
This  is  a  good  way  to  wind  up,  and  the  decoys 
and  dead  birds  make  a  boat  load.  The  finish  of 


SNOW   GEESE 


Goose-shooting  209 

the  day  came  in  the  evening  at  the  Club,  and  with 
a  pipe  before  the  fireplace  those  birds  were  all 
shot  over. 

IN  THE  STUBBLES 

Throughout  the  West,  geese  frequent  the  stub- 
ble fields,  and  here  they  are  often  shot  from  pits 
or  shacks ;  pits  are  by  far  the  most  satisfactory 
means  when  it  is  possible  to  dig  them.  It  is  often 
desirable  to  allow  the  birds  to  feed  about  the 
changed  surroundings  for  a  time  before  attempt- 
ing to  use  decoys ;  then  if  they  happen  to  come  in 
small  relays  instead  of  in  a  large  flock,  there  may 
be  a  good  chance.  To  me  this  form  of  shooting 
is  particularly  attractive,  and  I  recall  many  times 
my  first  experience  in  a  goose  pit. 

It  was  several  years  ago,  in  October,  and 
about  the  middle  of  the  month,  that  young  Jim 
Bosworth  walked  into  the  kitchen  of  the  Bos- 
worth  farm  with  the  information  that  there  was  a 
big  flock  of  geese  feeding  on  the  west  stubble. 
This  was  news  we  had  been  waiting  two  weeks 
for.  Jim  had  seen  the  geese  that  afternoon,  and 
it  was  a  question  if  it  wouldn't  be  a  good  plan  to 
let  them  alone  awhile  with  a  little  corn  for  en- 
couragement. I  had  then  a  first  goose  to  kill,  and 
the  thought  of  putting  off  a  matter  of  this  sort 
didn't  especially  appeal.  We  compromised  on 
one  day;  during  this  time  they  were  to  get  corn, 
the  next  morning  Jim  was  to  dig  the  pit,  and  the 


210  The  Water-fowl  Family 

following  afternoon  I  hoped  to  preside  at  the  ob- 
sequies of  a  goose.  We  started,  when  it  came 
time,  in  a  buggy ;  this  doesn't  seem  quite  in  har- 
mony with  surroundings,  for  we  were  in  the  wilds 
of  North  Dakota,  but  this  special  buggy  certainly 
served  our  purpose.  There  was  room  on  the  seat 
for  Jim  and  me  and  the  hired  man,  and  under  the 
seat  for  three  young  Canada  geese,  that  were  un- 
ceremoniously jumbled  into  a  sack,  where  they 
kicked  around  for  a  while  and  then  became  quiet. 
We  reached  the  pit  about  four  in  the  afternoon, 
after  three  miles  jogging  over  stubbles.  There 
wasn't  much  left  of  Jim's  corn,  and  according  to 
Jim  he  hadn't  been  stingy.  The  pit  was  dug  deep, 
the  dirt  well  scattered,  in  fact  there  were  tracks 
right  up  on  the  edge.  It  looked  like  one  of  those 
sure  things.  Jim  staked  out  the  three  decoys  and 
tied  a  string  to  each  one  of  their  free  legs;  these 
strings  were  for  manipulation  behind  the  screen, 
and  this  was  his  business  in  the  pit.  I  had  two  guns, 
a  ten  and  a  twelve.  It  began  to  get  fairly  well 
along  toward  sunset,  and  we  were  getting  a  trifle 
anxious,  when  the  sound  of  distant  honking  bright- 
ened up  matters.  The  decoys  were  young  and 
didn't  appreciate  the  importance  of  speaking  up,  so 
Jim  proceeded  to  pull  the  legs  of  two ;  the  result 
was  a  few  distressed  honks ;  they  were  answered, 
and  a  tumultuous  droning  indicated  a  big  gang  of 
geese.  From  the  noise  now  they  must  be  behind 


Goose-shooting  2 1 1 

the  high  knoll  in  front,  and  that  is  just  where 
they  were ;  for  in  a  few  seconds  a  great  line  of 
birds  came  into  view,  close  over  the  ground  ;  there 
was  an  everlasting  host  of  them.  If  we  ever  get 
a  shot  at  that  line  of  necks !  Gee !  they  were 
coming  head  on,  getting  bigger  and  blacker  every 
minute,  making  such  a  racket  you  couldn't  hear 
yourself  think.  If  there  had  not  been  two  guns 
close  by,  I  believe  I  would  have  been  afraid. 

Just  about  the  critical  moment  six  geese  sepa- 
rated from  the  crowd  and  came  straight  overhead, 
pretty  high  up,  and  here  is  where  I  made  the  big- 
gest mistake  in  a  life  of  blunders :  I  stood  up  in 
the  pit  and  fired  at  the  head  bird.  He  was  as 
big  as  the  sum  total  of  the  other  five.  The  first 
shot  plastered  him  all  over,  the  second  shot  did 
likewise,  but  he  never  winced.  Then  there  was 
the  ten-bore,  he  was  still  in  range ;  the  first  I 
don't  think  touched  him,  the  second  put  some 
shot  in  a  very  good  place,  right  in  his  neck ;  he 
folded  up  clean  and  hit  that  soft  stubble  with  such 
a  jolt  it  about  one-quarter  buried  him.  When 
we  finished  with  his  execution,  for  all  that  could 
be  seen  and  heard,  there  wasn't  another  goose  in 
North  Dakota.  That  was  all ;  Jim  didn't  see  any 
more  geese  on  the  west  stubble.  We  put  that 
gander  in  the  buggy,  —  he  had  to  go  in  front, 
there  was  no  room  behind.  He  tipped  the  Bos- 
worth  scales  at  an  even  eighteen  pounds. 


212  The  Water-fowl  Family 


GOOSE-SHOOTING  IN   MEXICO 

The  large  bodies  of  water  that  are  found  at 
rare  intervals  in  northern  Mexico  are  the  resort 
through  the  winter  of  countless  numbers  of  geese : 
not  the  Canada  goose  of  the  East  and  Middle 
West,  but  the  snow  goose  and  the  white-fronted 
goose.  In  early  October  the  hordes  arrive,  an- 
nouncing their  coming  with  discordant  clamor. 
They  choose  as  a  resting-place  the  shallow  alkali 
waters,  and  as  a  feeding-ground  the  neighboring 
corn  stubble,  if  such  there  be.  A  short  distance 
from  Minaca  is  one  of  these  lakes,  some  twenty 
miles  in  length.  In  the  Mexican  summer,  rains 
replenish  the  scanty  water  supply  left  over  from 
the  spring,  and  October  finds  it  a  paradise  for 
water-fowl.  Shut  in  by  the  rolling  hills  of  the 
mesa,  yellow  with  wavy  grass,  its  blue  surface 
reflects  a  bluer  sky.  All  around,  as  far  as  the 
eye  can  reach,  are  herds  of  cattle,  for  some  six 
miles  away  is  a  ranch ;  and  at  this  spot,  one  fall 
recently,  we  stopped.  Early  in  the  morning  a 
breakfast  of  tortillas  and  coffee  was  served,  and 
before  it  was  finished  a  Mexican  boy  appeared 
with  the  horses.  Guns  were  slipped  into  the  sad- 
dle-cases. Our  attendant  found  room  for  most  of 
our  ammunition  in  his  saddle-bag,  and  we  started 
for  the  lake.  It  was  a  ride  of  about  six  miles, 
over  an  open  country ;  but  the  horses  were  fast, 


Goose-shooting  2 1 3 

and  in  less  than  half  an  hour  we  looked  down 
from  a  knoll  on  the  sheet  of  water  some  two 
miles  away.  Along  the  farther  shore  was  a  bank 
of  white,  shining  in  the  light  of  sunrise  —  a  solid 
bank  of  snow  geese.  Scattered  over  its  surface 
everywhere  were  flocks  of  ducks  and  geese,  black 
masses  of  them.  We  hurried  on,  passing  through 
herd  after  herd  of  cattle,  which  increased  in  num- 
bers as  the  water  was  approached.  A  coyote 
stopped  to  take  a  fleeting  glance  from  the  top  of 
a  hill  opposite,  then  disappeared.  A  jack-rabbit 
scurried  from  in  front.  A  familiar  cry  overhead 
caused  us  to  look  up.  It  came  from  a  flock  of 
sand-hill  cranes,  far  out  of  reach,  which  were  sail- 
ing on  toward  their  feeding-ground  in  the  stubble. 
We  reached  the  edge  of  the  lake,  and  hundreds  of 
ducks  rose  as  the  horses  neared  them,  mostly 
shovellers  and  teal,  but  mallard,  widgeon,  and 
pintail  were  all  there.  The  geese  were  across 
the  lake,  thousands  in  one  band.  Every  now  and 
then  a  white  line  joined  the  resting  birds,  and  at 
the  approach  of  a  flock  their  discordant  cries 
could  be  heard  a  mile  away.  How  to  get  a  shot 
seemed  more  or  less  of  a  problem,  owing  to  lack 
of  cover.  Finally  we  noticed  a  few  bunches  of 
rushes  extending  well  out  into  the  lake,  the  only 
possible  chance  to  hide.  We  waded  out  and 
took  a  position  in  the  farthest  clump.  The 
Mexican  led  off  the  horses  and  started  on  a 


214  The  Heater-fowl  Family 

tour  to  the  farther  shore.  It  was  a  long  way  off, 
almost  four  miles,  but  there  was  plenty  to  watch. 
Every  few  minutes  flocks  of  ducks  would  pass 
over  us  in  range,  but  we  let  them  go.  Gulls  cir- 
cled around,  crying  at  the  unusual  sight  of  two 
men  with  guns.  We  looked  over  at  the  geese. 
At  times  cattle  seemed  almost  among  them ;  yet 
the  white  assembly  did  not  move,  and  we  only 
heard  them  when  a  flock  was  about  to  alight  to 
those  on  the  ground.  The  horses  were  getting 
closer,  and  finally  a  part  of  the  body  started,  to 
settle  down  a  little  farther  on.  But  presently  a 
tumultuous  clamor,  and  the  entire  company  was 
in  motion.  Line  after  line  separated  and  led  out 
into  the  lake.  Some  followed  the  opposite  shore ; 
an  immense  flock  led  toward  our  clump,  and  we 
crouched  in  the  water.  On  they  came,  scarcely  a 
hundred  yards  off.  But  geese  are  uncertain,  even 
in  Mexico,  and,  for  some  reason  best  known  to 
themselves,  they  turned  when  just  out  of  range 
and  led  toward  the  shore  beyond  us.  In  a  few 
minutes  they  were  reassembled  and  the  imme- 
diate prospect  of  a  shot  gone.  The  Mexican,  with 
his  string  of  horses,  continued  down  the  opposite 
side,  evidently  after  birds  we  could  not  see.  Ducks 
were  around  us  all  the  time,  and  flocks  drifted  by 
within  easy  range,  unmolested.  Before  long  we 
heard  the  familiar  cry,  and  looked  to  see  a  mass 
of  white  heading  for  the  flock  on  the  shore;  our 


Goose-shooting  2 1 5 

blind  was  right  in  their  line,  and  they  came  on, 
low  down,  over  the  water,  nearer  and  nearer; 
finally  fifty  or  more  seemed  directly  over  us,  so 
close  we  could  see  their  red  bills  and  legs.  This 
was  the  chance :  back  to  back  we  raked  them, 
four  barrels ;  three  birds  fell  on  one  side,  two  on 
the  other.  The  reports  started  all  the  wild  fowl 
in  the  country.  In  a  few  minutes  part  of  the 
first  flock  came  over  us  from  the  opposite  direc- 
tion, and  two  dropped.  A  flock  of  geese  swung 
in  range  over  the  dead  birds,  and  we  killed  two 
more.  For  an  hour  the  shots  were  frequent,  but 
the  birds  became  wiser  every  minute,  and  kept 
to  the  middle  of  the  lake  or  else  came  over  the 
blind  out  of  range.  We  picked  up  eighteen, 
a  dozen  white,  the  rest  white-fronted  —  all  one 
Mexican  could  pack  on  a  horse. 

THE  GEESE 
(Anserina) 

The  geese  are  the  largest  water-fowl  we  often 
see  in  eastern  North  America,  and  even  they  are 
seldom  found  except  in  certain  localities.  Their 
necks  and  legs  are  longer  than  those  of  the  ducks 
and  mergansers,  and  the  bill,  though  somewhat 
like  that  of  a  duck,  is  shorter,  higher  at  base,  and 
more  fleshy,  with  a  larger  nail  at  the  tip.  They 
agree  with  the  ducks  and  mergansers  in  having 
the  space  between  the  eye  and  the  bill  covered 


216  The  Water-fowl  Family 

with  feathers.  The  hind  toe  is  without  a  mem- 
branous lobe.  While  most  of  them  perform  long 
migrations,  breeding  in  the  far  north  and  reach- 
ing temperate  latitudes  for  the  winter,  one  species 
remains  near  Bering  Sea  throughout  the  year, 
and  some  of  the  most  peculiar  forms  are  con- 
fined to  the  southern  hemisphere.  The  Alaskan 
species,  the  emperor  goose,  feeds  on  an  animal 
diet,  but  most  of  the  others  on  grasses,  grain,  or 
water-plants,  and  their  flesh  is  a  valuable  addition 
to  the  bill  of  fare.  Many  savage  races  have  in 
the  past  depended  on  geese  for  a  large  portion  of 
their  food.  The  natives  of  the  west  shore  of 
Hudson  Bay,  in  the  eighteenth  century,  would 
kill  each  spring  from  five  to  six  thousand  snow 
geese  and  salt  them  for  food ;  and  the  Eskimo, 
living  between  the  mouths  of  the  Kuskokwim 
and  Yukon  rivers,  in  Alaska,  as  recently  as  the 
closing  quarter  of  the  last  century,  were  accus- 
tomed to  stretch  long  lines  of  net  across  the 
marshes,  and  then  drive  the  moulting  geese  and 
ducks  into  them,  thus  destroying  thousands. 

Geese  do  not  dive,  but  when  feeding  in  water, 
which  must  be  shallow,  stretch  their  long  necks 
to  the  bottom,  elevating  the  rest  of  the  body  in 
the  air.  A  flock  of  brant  thus  changing  from 
black  to  white  is  an  interesting  spectacle.  Many 
species  feed  almost  entirely  on  the  land,  and  some 
seldom  visit  the  water.  The  sexes  are  alike  in 


Goose-sbooting  2 1 7 

plumage  and  the  speculum  usually  absent.  They 
breed  on  the  ground  in  retired  marshes,  on  an 
island  in  some  lake,  or  rarely  in  the  deserted  nest 
of  a  large  bird,  and  often  collect  quite  a  mass  of 
rubbish  for  a  nest.  The  female  sits  on  the  eggs 
while  the  male  protects  her,  and  both  will  defend 
their  young  from  an  intruder,  thrusting  forward 
their  long  necks  and  hissing,  striking  with  their 
wings,  or  flying  at  his  head.  In  migrating  they 
fly  swiftly  and  far,  travelling  in  V-shaped  flocks, 
led  usually  by  an  old  gander.  In  one  species  at 
least,  the  Canada  goose,  the  family  migrates  to- 
gether, and  in  captivity  a  pair  once  mated  will 
remain  so  for  life.  If  separated  they  will  take 
other  partners;  but  if  brought  together  again, 
even  after  the  lapse  of  a  year,  it  is  said,  will 
return  to  each  other. 

The  tree-ducks,  of  which  two  species  occur  near 
the  Mexican  border  of  the  United  States,  are 
placed  by  most  ornithologists  among  the  geese. 
While  the  bills  of  these  birds  closely  resemble  those 
of  the  ducks,  other  anatomical  details  indicate  a 
nearer  relationship  to  the  present  sub-family. 

Among  the  interesting  geese,  natives  in  other 
parts  of  the  world,  is  the  Egyptian  goose  (Chena- 
lopex  tzgyptiacus).  This  bird  has  most  of  the 
head  and  neck  brown ;  the  upper  part  of  the 
throat  and  centre  of  the  abdomen,  white ;  most 
of  upper  parts,  breast,  and  flanks,  ferruginous 


218  The  Water-fowl  Family 

buff,  barred  with  dusky;  some  of  the  scapulars, 
chestnut ;  the  wings,  black,  with  a  green  speculu- 
lum  ;  the  wing-coverts,  white  ;  the  lower  back  and 
tail,  black ;  the  lower  tail-coverts,  buff ;  a  broad 
chocolate-colored  patch  in  the  centre  of  the  breast ; 
and  the  bill  and  legs,  pinkish,  —  all  together  a 
very  richly  marked  bird.  Its  home  is  in  north- 
ern Africa,  but  it  occasionally  wanders  into 
Europe,  and  two  specimens  have  been  taken  in 
this  country,  one  on  Long  Island,  the  other  in 
Maryland.  As  this  species  has  never  been  found 
on  the  Atlantic  islands,  and  is  often  kept  in 
aviaries,  it  is  probable  that  these  birds  escaped 
from  captivity ;  but  the  above  description  will  be 
of  assistance  to  any  one  who  should  chance  to 
shoot  another. 

Another  interesting  African  goose  has  a  spur 
on  the  bend  of  the  wing ;  and  a  third,  in  addition, 
a  high  knob  on  the  forehead.  One  goose  inhabits 
the  high  Andes  of  western  South  America,  com- 
ing down  to  the  plains  only  in  winter ;  and  there 
exists  in  the  tropics  of  the  Old  World  a  group  of 
small  geese,  not  larger  than  a  teal,  which  differ 
also  from  other  geese  in  spending  most  of  their 
time  in  the  water. 

But  the  strangest  of  all  strange  geese  live  in 
Australia  and  New  Zealand.  The  Australian  bird 
is  large,  with  a  glossy,  greenish  black  plumage, 
relieved  by  pure  white  shoulders,  rump,  and  lower 


Goose-shooting  2 1 9 

parts.  Its  toes  are  webbed  only  to  the  first  joint, 
and  a  warty  skin  extends  from  the  nail  of  the  bill 
to  behind  the  eye.  Its  habits  are  said  to  resemble 
those  of  a  crane  more  than  a  goose.  The  New 
Zealand  bird  is  still  more  peculiar.  Its  feet  are 
but  little  more  webbed  than  the  last,  and  its  short, 
thick  bill  is  covered  from  the  nail  with  a  light 
yellow  skin,  similar  to  that  on  a  hawk.  It  is  a 
large  and  heavy  bird,  with  short  legs,  brownish 
ashy  in  color,  and  inhabits  the  dry  interior  plains, 
never  going  near  the  water. 

LESSER    SNOW    GOOSE 

(Chen  hyperbored) 

Adult  male  and  female  —  Entire  plumage  with  the  exception  of 
primaries,  snow-white;  the  head  sometimes  tinged  with  rusty 
anteriorly ;  primaries,  jet-black  ;  primary  coverts,  ash-gray ;  bill, 
pink  ;  nail,  white  ;  feet,  pink  or  purplish  pink  ;  iris,  brown. 

Measurements  —  Length,  25.50  inches;  wing,  15.75  inches;  tarsus, 
3.30  inches ;  culmen,  2.10  inches. 

Young — Plumage,  ashy  gray,  becoming  white  on  chin,  abdomen, 
lesser  wing-coverts,  base  of  primary  coverts,  tail-coverts,  and  tail ; 
bill  and  feet,  a  dirty  pink ;  the  adult  plumage  is  not  fully 
acquired  before  fourth  year. 

Eggs  —  Four  to  six  in  number,  of  a  yellowish  white  color,  and  meas- 
ure 3  by  2  inches. 

Habitat — Breeds  on  the  Arctic  coast  of  Alaska,  from  Kotzebue 
Sound  to  Point  Barrow  and  probably  east  to  Liverpool  Bay. 
Winters  from  British  Columbia,  Nevada,  Utah,  Colorado,  and 
Kansas,  south  to  California,  Arizona,  Texas,  Louisiana,  and 
Mexico,  and  very  rarely  in  Vermont,  Massachusetts,  Rhode 
Island,  Connecticut,  New  York,  and  New  Jersey;  very  rare 
east  of  the  Mississippi,  but  reported  as  a  straggler  in  Michigan, 


220  The  Water-Jowl  Family 

Indiana,  Maine,  and  Nova  Scotia.  Recorded  also  from  north- 
eastern Asia,  Japan,  Hawaii,  and  Europe,  and  this,  or  Ch.  h. 
nivalts,  from  Bermuda. 

For  a  long  time  no  distinction  was  made  between 
the  snow  geese.  There  is,  however,  no  doubt  as 
to  the  two  separate  races,  although  a  differentia- 
tion depending  entirely  on  size  is  rather  unsatis- 
factory. Careful  observation  has  demonstrated 
the  fact  that  the  lesser  variety  is  strictly  inland 
and  western  in  its  distribution,  occurring  from  the 
Mississippi  Valley  to  the  Pacific  Coast,  while  the 
greater  snow  goose  is  found  casually  inland,  but 
most  commonly  along  the  Atlantic.  Both  varie- 
ties breed  in  the  far  Arctic  regions. 

The  lesser  snow  goose  is  very  abundant  through- 
out the  northern  Mississippi  Valley,  arriving  in 
Dakota  early  in  October  and  wintering  in  Texas 
and  about  the  Gulf.  There  is  also  a  migration 
along  the  Pacific  Coast,  the  birds  being  found 
throughout  California  and  far  into  Mexico  during 
the  winter.  The  breeding-ground  is  so  far  within 
the  Arctic  circle  that  the  Indians  and  Eskimo 
north  of  Hudson  Bay  tell  of  the  birds  still  flying 
on.  The  nest  has  seldom  been  taken.  Along 
the  Yukon  they  are  common  in  the  spring,  but  do 
not  breed  in  the  vicinity,  nor  do  they  return  by 
this  route  in  the  fall.  Throughout  the  northern 
parts  of  Hudson  Bay  this  species  is  very  abun- 
dant in  early  May,  arriving  in  small  flocks,  soon 


Goose-shooting  2  2 1 

congregating  in  vast  numbers.  Here  they  are 
exposed  to  slaughter  by  the  Indians,  who  depend 
upon  them  extensively  at  this  season  for  food, 
shooting  them  on  the  feeding-grounds  at  night. 
Their  habit  of  huddling  together  at  the  approach 
of  a  light  enables  many  to  be  killed  at  a  single 
shot.  The  young  fly  by  the  middle  of  August, 
and  early  in  October  the  first  relays  appear 
within  our  boundary.  While  sharing  the  resorts 
of  other  wild  fowl  they  keep  to  themselves,  usually 
quiet;  if  excited  or  started  from  their  roosting- 
place,  the  din  is  inconceivable.  The  flight,  in 
lines,  is  strong  and  far  out  of  range.  As  the  vast 
flocks  pass  overhead  they  whiten  the  sky  and, 
alighting,  give  the  earth  the  appearance  of  snow. 
No  more  impressive  sight  can  be  conceived  than 
the  countless  numbers  of  these  birds  covering  the 
prairie,  —  unfortunately,  now  a  scene  of  the  past. 
Recently,  the  writer  saw  this  goose  in  large  flocks 
in  northern  Mexico  about  May  10.  They  fre- 
quented a  large,  shallow  lake  on  the  mesa.  He 
was  informed  that  quite  a  number  remained 
throughout  the  summer,  but  according  to  the 
natives  never  bred.  This  small  remnant  was 
likely  composed  of  barren  geese. 

In  the  sections  of  North  Dakota  where  this 
goose  is  abundant  in  spring,  at  the  first  break  of 
dawn  the  flocks  start  for  the  feeding-ground,  which 
may  be  ten  or  fifteen  miles  from  the  lake  on  whose 


222  The  Water-fowl  Family 

borders  they  have  passed  the  night.  Where  one 
flock  alights  the  others  follow,  and  soon  the 
ground  is  white.  They  feed  among  the  wheat 
stubble  or  on  the  young  marsh-grass.  The  bor- 
ders of  a  slough  where  they  have  fed  looks  as  if 
cut  by  a  machine.  About  noon  they  go  back  to 
the  lake,  and  toward  the  middle  of  the  afternoon 
start  again  for  the  feeding-ground,  which  may  be 
a  totally  different  locality  from  that  of  the  morn- 
ing, to  return  once  more  to  the  lake  as  the  sun 
sinks  to  rest. 

Snow  geese  are  shy  and  difficult  of  approach, 
but  occasionally  can  be  ridden  upon  from  horse- 
back, or  even  will  allow  a  wagon  to  be  driven 
within  range,  especially  if  a  heavy  wind  be  taken 
advantage  of.  Decoys  seldom  attract  them  unless 
of  their  own  kind.  Passes  sometimes  offer  excel- 
lent shooting,  and  many  are  killed  as  they  fly  from 
feeding-grounds  on  the  stubble  to  neighboring 
water.  The  food  consists  of  water  vegetables  and 
grasses  of  all  kinds,  berries,  and  grain  when  the 
locality  affords  it.  The  flesh  does  not  stand  in 
high  repute,  though  in  places  the  young  birds  are 
prized.  The  snow  goose  bears  domestication,  and 
there  are  numerous  instances  of  its  confinement. 
In  cases  where  barnyard  geese  are  mated  with  it 
the  eggs  are  unproductive.  Mr.  Ross  speaks  of 
an  instance  where  a  fur  trader  in  the  Red  River 
settlement  domesticated  a  pair  of  the.se  birds,  one 


Goose-shooting  223 

of  which  died.  The  next  fall,  as  a  flock  of  snow 
geese  was  passing  over,  one  of  them  separated 
from  the  others,  mating  with  the  tame  goose,  and 
remained  through  the  winter.  The  following 
spring  it  rejoined  its  brethren  and  proceeded 
north.  In  the  fall  it  again  returned.  This  is 
said  to  have  been  repeated  for  several  years. 
(B.  B.  &  R.) 

Perhaps  the  most  common  name  for  this  bird 
is  the  white  brant.  In  localities  it  is  called  white 
wavey.  By  the  Russians  it  is  known  as  barley 
goose.  The  weight  of  the  snow  goose  is  from 
four  to  six  pounds. 

GREATER   SNOW   GOOSE 
(Chen  hyperborea  nivalis) 

Adult  male  and  female  —  General  plumage,  white,  with  black  pri- 
maries, and  primary  coverts,  ash ;  frequently  a  rusty  tinge  on 
head  anteriorly ;  bill  and  feet,  pink ;  iris,  brown. 

The  young  bird  has  a  grayish  tinge  to  neck,  head,  and  upper 
part.  This  bird  resembles  the  lesser  snow  goose  precisely, 
differing  from  it  only  in  size. 

Measurements  —  Total  length,  34  inches  ;  wing,  17.50  inches  ;  tarsus, 
3.30  inches ;  culmen,  2.60  inches ;  the  average  difference  in 
measurement  between  these  two  varieties  is  length,  9  inches ; 
wing,  1.70  inches;  tarsus,  .70  inch. 

Habitat  —  Breeds  in  northern  Greenland,  and  possibly  at  Liverpool 
Bay,  and  the  Barren  Grounds  on  the  Arctic  Coast,  south  to  Hud- 
son Bay.  Winters  chiefly  on  the  Atlantic  Coast  of  North  Caro- 
lina, occurring  rarely  at  this  season  also  in  New  Brunswick, 
Pennsylvania,  New  Jersey,  Maryland,  Virginia,  and  south  to 
Florida,  Key  West,  and  Cuba ;  also  on  the  Gulf  Coast  of  Louisi- 
ana and  Texas,  occasionally  north  to  western  New  York,  Ohio, 


224  The  Water-fowl  Family 

and  Michigan.  In  the  migrations  occurs  rarely  east  to  New- 
foundland, and  west  to  Manitoba,  Assiniboia  (?),  Alberta  (?), 
North  Dakota,  Nebraska,  and  Colorado. 

This  species  can  nowhere  be  said  to  be  com- 
mon. It  is  found  most  frequently  along  the 
coast  of  Virginia  and  North  Carolina,  where  it 
winters  in  the  sounds  and  bays,  arriving  in  early 
November  and  leaving  in  March.  At  times  the 
bird  is  abundant  in  Cuba.  Dr.  Degland,  accord- 
ing to  Mr.  Dresser,  states  that  when  Cienaga  de 
Zapata  begins  to  dry  up,  portions  are  covered 
with  snow  geese,  and  he  had  killed  at  least  thirty 
in  one  season.  (B.  B.  &  R.) 

North  of  the  Chesapeake  the  bird  is  rare.  Snow 
geese  are  taken  occasionally  off  the  coast  of  Maine. 
Small  flocks  are  sometimes  seen  on  Long  Island. 
Along  the  New  Jersey  coast  they  are  more  abun- 
dant and  go  by  the  name  of  red  geese,  probably 
from  the  color  of  the  bill  and  legs. 

July  10,  1893,  a  specimen  of  the  downy  young 
of  the  greater  snow  goose  was  obtained  together 
with  the  adult  female  at  Glazier  Valley,  Green- 
land. (Lieutenant  Peary's  Expedition.) 

Nests  of  snow  geese  have  been  found  near 
Liverpool  Bay.  They  were  placed  on  a  small 
island  in  a  lake  in  holes  in  sandy  soil,  and  were 
well  lined  with  down.  (B.  B.  &  R.) 

Its  habits  are  similar  to  those  of  the  lesser  snow 
goose.  The  bird  is  a  high,  strong  flyer,  the  flight 


Goose-shooting 


225 


being  in  lines.  It  seldom  utters  any  note,  though 
occasionally,  when  attracted  by  other  geese,  or 
wounded,  a  shrill  honk  is  heard.  A  white  line  of 
these  birds  along  the  shore  or  high  in  air  is  a 
beautiful  sight.  On  Currituck  Bay  small  flocks 
are  not  infrequently  seen  along  the  sand-bars, 
where  they  are  occasionally  shot  over  live  geese 
decoys,  or  sometimes  when  a  straggler  comes 
within  range  of  the  blind.  In  one  of  the  clubs, 
among  the  decoy  geese,  is  a  live,  domesticated  bird 
of  this  species,  almost  as  large  as  a  Canada  goose. 
Grasses  growing  under  water,  various  vege- 
tables, and  small  crustaceans  are  its  diet.  The 
flesh  is  not  prized  for  food.  The  weight  is  from 
six  to  ten  pounds. 

BLUE    GOOSE 
(Chen  ccerulescens) 

Adult  male  and  female  —  Head  and  upper  half  of  the  neck,  white, 
sometimes  washed  with  rusty  anteriorly;  back  and  breast,  dark 
slate;  the  feathers  tipped  with  lighter  brown;  wing-coverts, 
blue-gray ;  secondaries,  dark  brown,  edged  with  white ;  prima- 
ries, black,  fading  into  gray;  flanks,  brownish  gray;  under 
parts,  gray ;  rump,  upper  and  under  tail-coverts,  grayish ;  tail, 
deep  brownish  gray,  bordered  with  white;  bill  and  feet,  red- 
dish ;  iris,  brown. 

Measurements  —  Total  length,  28  inches;  wings,  16  inches;  tar- 
sus, 3.10  inches;  culmen,  2.20  inches. 

Young —  Somewhat  similar,  but  less  showy ;  the  head  and  neck, 
gray-brown,  with  a  white  chin  ;  the  body  more  cinereous  than  in 
the  adult ;  bill  and  feet,  dusky. 

Habitat  —  Breeds  probably  on  the  northeastern  shores  of  Hudson 
Bay.  Winters  chiefly  on  the  goast  of  Louisiana,  occasionally 


226  The  Water-fowl  Family 

up  the  Mississippi  Valley  to  Illinois.  Migrates  through  the  Mis- 
sissippi Valley,  west  to  Manitoba  and  North  Dakota.  Occurs 
very  rarely  in  migration  or  winter  in  California  and  in  Ontario, 
Michigan,  Indiana,  Ohio,  Pennsylvania,  New  Brunswick  (?), 
Maine,  Massachusetts,  Rhode  Island,  New  York,  New  Jer- 
sey(?),  North  Carolina,  Florida  (?),  and  the  West  Indies. 

For  a  long  time  the  blue  goose  was  supposed 
to  be  the  young  of  the  snow  goose,  but  it  is  now 
established  as  a  distinct  species. 

This  bird  occurs  throughout  North  America. 
In  Dakota,  and  along  the  Mississippi  Valley, 
small  numbers  are  killed  on  the  fall  migration. 
On  the  Pacific  Coast  the  bird  has  not  been  taken, 
and  is  very  rare  on  the  Atlantic,  a  specimen  hav- 
ing been  recorded  on  Grand  Manan. 

The  breeding-ground  is  supposed  to  be  in  the 
impassable  bogs  lying  northeast  of  Labrador, 
the  geese  nesting  on  the  solid  and  dry  tufts  in 
the  morasses.  (B.  B.  &  R.)  The  eggs  and  nest 
have  not  been  found. 

In  the  spring  James  Bay  is  crossed  by  the  blue 
geese,  coming  from  the  east  in  flocks  by  them- 
selves. In  the  United  States  the  bird  arrives  in 
early  October,  leaving  late  in  March.  It  is  most 
frequently  seen  in  flocks  of  snow  geese,  and  un- 
doubtedly accompanies  the  white-fronted  goose, 
though  its  presence  with  the  latter  would  be  less 
easily  detected.  Its  southern  migration  extends 
to  Louisiana  and  the  Gulf.  The  habits  resemble 
those  of  the  snow  goose.  Its  flesh  is  palatable. 


Goose-sbooting  227 

Other  names  for  this  bird  are  blue  snow  goose, 
blue  wavey,  bald-headed  goose,  white-headed  goose, 
blue  brant,  blue-winged  goose.  In  its  full  spring 
plumage,  the  blue  goose  is  seldom  taken  in  the 
limits  of  the  United  States,  and  it  is  perhaps  the 
rarest  of  our  geese. 


ROSS'S    SNOW   GOOSE 


(Chen  rossii) 

Adult  male  and  female  —  Plumage,  entirely  snowy  white ;  the  pri- 
maries are  black,  fading  into  gray ;  bill  and  feet,  dull  red ;  the 
base  of  the  bill  is  covered  with  wartlike  corrugations,  though 
this  is  not  always  the  case;  loral  feathering  forming  a  nearly 
straight  line  on  upper  mandible.  This  outline  is  convex  in  the 
other  members  of  the  genus. 

Young — White,  with  a  grayish  cast;  bill  and  feet,  dusky. 

Measurements.  —  Length,  23  inches;  wing,  14.50  inches;  tarsus, 
2.75  inches;  oilmen,  1.60  inches. 

Habitat  —  Breeds  in  Arctic  America,  exact  place  unknown.  Win- 
ters in  California  south  to  Orange  County,  and  in  Mexico. 
Occurs  in  migrations  from  Hudson  Bay  and  North  Dakota, 
west  to  Fort  Anderson,  Great  Slave  Lake,  British  Columbia, 
and  Oregon. 

This  little  goose  is  the  smallest  of  all  the  geese, 
weighing  less  than  three  pounds,  —  smaller,  if  any- 
thing, than  a  mallard  duck.  It  is  one  of  the  rarer 
varieties,  being  found  occasionally  in  flocks  of  the 
lesser  snow  goose,  sometimes  by  itself.  In  Mon- 
tana and  Dakota  this  bird  occurs  "sparingly.  It 
has  been  seen  in  large  flocks  in  the  San  Joaquin 
Valley.  The  bird  has  a  cackling  cry,  but  in  its 
flight  and  habits  resembles  the  larger  members  of 


228  The  Water-fowl  Family 

the  family.  The  breeding-ground  is  in  the  re- 
motest North ;  the  nest  and  eggs  have  not  been 
taken.  The  flesh  is  delicate  and  palatable. 
The  only  specimen  of  the  Ross's  goose  coming 
under  my  observation  was  shot  by  Mr.  Sheldon 
in  northern  Mexico.  It  was  one  of  a  pair,  and 
was  found  along  the  edge  of  a  shallow  lake.  It 
is  also  known  as  the  horned  wavey,  referring  to 
the  excrescences  about  the  bill. 

EUROPEAN    WHITE-FRONTED   GOOSE 

(Anser  albifrons) 

Differs  from  the  American  subspecies  in  having  a  slightly  shorter 
bill  (culmen,  1.60  to  1.75  inches),  a  shorter  tarsus  (2.25  to  2.80 
inches),  and  usually  paler  lower  parts.  Specimens  intermediate 
in  the  coloring  of  lower  parts  have  been  taken  in  Great  Britain 
and  Iceland,  and  intermediates  in  measurements  in  western 
Greenland. 

Habitat  —  Breeds  in  the  northern  parts  of  the  eastern  hemisphere, 
including  Iceland,  north  to  Nova  Zembla  and  the  Yenisei  River 
above  72°  north,  and  passes  south  in  winter  to  Egypt,  India, 
China,  etc.  Of  doubtful  record  from  southeastern  Greenland. 

The  habits  of  this  bird  are  similar  to  those  of 
its  American  relative. 

AMERICAN    WHITE-FRONTED    GOOSE 

{Anser  albifrons  gambelt) 

Adult  male  and  female  —  Forehead  and  base  of  bill,  white ;  re- 
mainder of  head  and  neck,  brown  ;  back  and  wings,  ashy ;  feath- 
ers tipped  with  brown  on  the  upper  parts ;  the  lower  parts,  of  a 
gray  cast  with  black  blotches.  The  variation  among  individuals 
of  this  species  is  extensive,  the  lower  parts,  in  some  instances, 


Goose-shooting  229 

having  but  one  or  two  black  spots ;  in  others,  the  black  pre- 
dominates ;  upper  and  under  tail-coverts,  white ;  tail,  dark 
brown,  bordered  with  white  ;  bill,  yellowish  white  ;  feet,  yellow  ; 
iris,  brown. 

Young —  Head  and  neck,  dark  brown  ;  under  parts,  brownish  gray 
without  the  black  marking. 

Downy  young — Above,  olive-green;  below,  greenish  yellow. 

Measurements  —  Length,  28  inches;  wings,  15.25  inches;  tarsus, 
2.60  to  3.20  inches;  culmen,  1.80  to  2.30  inches. 

Eggs  —  Five  to  seven  in  number,  of  a  dull  white  color,  and  measure 
3  by  2  inches. 

Habitat  —  Breeds  in  western  Greenland  north  to  72°,  on  the  coast 
and  islands  of  the  Arctic  west  to  Bering  Strait  and  northeastern 
Siberia,  and  on  the  Alaskan  coast  of  Bering  Sea  to  the  lower 
Yukon,  and  is  said  to  breed  on  the  coast  of  British  Columbia 
south  to  Vancouver  Island.  Winters  on  the  Atlantic  Coast 
rarely,  from  New  Jersey  and  North  Carolina  to  Florida  and 
Cuba ;  on  the  coast  of  Louisiana  and  Texas,  south  into  Mexico, 
and  rarely  north  to  Illinois  and  possibly  Ohio ;  in  Arizona,  and 
on  the  Pacific  Coast  from  British  Columbia  to  Lower  California 
and  Mexico.  Abundant  on  the  Pacific  Coast  in  migration  ;  tol- 
erably common  in  the  western  Mississippi  Valley,  and  rare  east 
to  the  Atlantic  Coast,  where  it  occurs  irregularly  as  far  north  as 
northeastern  Labrador.  Occurs  also  in  Japan  and  Hawaii. 


Mr.  MacFarlane  found  this  species  breeding 
abundantly  on  the  Arctic  Coast  and  in  the  islands 
of  the  Arctic  Sea.  The  nest  is  composed  of 
grasses,  down,  and  feathers,  situated  frequently  in 
wooded  districts  in  the  vicinity  of  fresh-water  lakes. 
The  breeding-ground  is  on  the  Anderson  River, 
the  shores  of  Bering  Straits,  and  the  Commander 
Islands.  Incubation  is  established  early  in  July, 
during  which  time  the  birds  spend  much  of  their 
time  on  land,  feeding  on  berries  and  various 


230  The  Water-fowl  Family 

grasses.  By  the  middle  of  July  the  young  are 
hatched  and  the  family  take  to  the  water.  The 
bird  first  appears  within  our  limits  in  September, 
arriving  in  small  flocks  of  from  ten  to  thirty,  the 
young  birds  accompanying  the  old.  They  fly  in 
lines  and  wedges,  making  a  great  deal  of  noise,  a 
sort  of  discordant  cackle.  The  flock  is  usually 
heard  before  it  is  seen.  When  a  suitable  feeding- 
ground  has  been  selected,  which  is  often  a  wheat 
stubble,  the  birds  frequent  it  until  the  food  supply 
is  exhausted,  or  a  few  shots  have  made  them  wise. 
They  quickly  learn  danger  and  become  exceed- 
ingly wary ;  sentinels  are  appointed,  and  if  once 
disturbed  while  feeding,  seldom  return  to  the  same 
field.  They  make  frequent  trips  to  neighboring 
waters  for  a  drink  and  rest,  their  flight  announced 
by  the  loudest  din  ;  on  these  journeys,  early  in  the 
morning  and  in  the  evening,  their  chosen  time  for 
moving,  many  of  them  are  killed.  It  is  usually 
an  easy  matter  for  the  hunter  to  select  his  posi- 
tion, as  the  line  of  flight  varies  but  little.  The 
first  small  flocks  are  seen  in  the  late  afternoon. 
From  then  on  until  dark  they  come  in  continu- 
ous stream,  all  following  in  the  same  straight 
course.  Occasionally  the  bird  is  killed  from  pits 
dug  on  the  feeding-grounds,  and  sometimes  it  will 
hail  to  Canada  geese  decoys.  The  food  of  this  bird 
consists  of  various  water-grasses  ;  in  Kentucky,  of 
beechnuts  and  acorns.  Where  opportunity  af- 


WHITE-FRONTED  OR    GAMBEL'S    GEESE 


Goose-shooting  231 

fords,  it  visits  the  grain-fields,  greedily  feeding  on 
the  corn  and  wheat  stubble.  The  bird  is  excel- 
lent for  the  table,  particularly  the  young.  Other 
names  for  this  species  are  laughing  goose,  speckled 
belly,  speckled  brant,  gray  brant. 

BEAN    GOOSE 

(Anser  fabalis) 

Adult  male  and  female  —  Upper  parts,  dark  brown,  edged  with  gray- 
ish white ;  head  and  neck,  grayish  brown,  darkest  on  the  head, 
with  a  white  patch  on  forehead  ;  rump,  brownish  black ;  wings, 
brown  ;  coverts,  grayish,  edged  with  white  ;  breast,  pale  brown  ; 
sides  and  flanks,  brown  with  pale  edges ;  upper  and  under  tail- 
coverts,  abdomen,  and  vent,  white ;  bill,  black  with  a  middle 
part  of  deep  orange ;  iris,  dark  brown  ;  legs  and  feet,  orange. 

Measure7tients  —  Length,  32  inches;  wing,  19  inches;  culmen,  2.30 
inches  ;  tarsus,  3.10  inches. 

Female  averages  somewhat  smaller  than  the  male. 

Habitat  —  Breeds  in  northern  Europe  and  northern  Asia,  from 
Russian  Lapland  east  to  the  Yenisei  River,  and  north  to  Nova 
Zembla.  Winters  south  to  southern  Europe,  northern  Africa, 
China,  etc.  Recorded  from  northern  Greenland. 

The  only  reason  for  admitting  the  bean  goose 
to  the  check-list  of  North  American  birds  is  the 
fact  that  a  single  specimen  in  the  museum  at 
Copenhagen  is  stated  to  have  come  from  Green- 
land. 

Though  often  common  in  Europe  and  Asia  in 
migrations  and  in  winter,  the  bean  goose,  like  so 
many  others  of  its  relatives,  seeks  the  far  North 
to  raise  its  young.  There  it  lays  five  or  six  eggs. 
It  feeds  in  the  open  fields,  is  very  shy,  and  is  less 


232  The  Water-fowl  Family 

aquatic  in  its  habits  than  most  water-fowl.  If 
chased  during  the  moulting  season,  when  from 
the  loss  of  its  primaries  it  is  unable  to  fly,  it  will 
attempt  to  escape  observation  by  flattening  it- 
self on  the  ground  with  its  head  thrust  forward, 
and  will  not  take  to  the  water  unless  absolutely 
cornered. 

CANADA    GOOSE 
(Branta  canadensis) 

Adult  male  and  female  —  Head  and  neck,  black  with  a  white  patch 
on  each  cheek  extending  across  the  throat ;  upper  parts,  dark 
brown  ;  feathers  tipped  with  lighter ;  lower  parts,  paler  than  the 
upper,  the  light  gray  sometimes  fading  into  white  about  the 
anal  region ;  primaries,  rump,  and  tail,  black ;  upper  and  under 
tail-coverts,  white ;  legs,  feet,  and  bill,  black ;  iris,  brown. 

Measurements  —  Average  length,  38  inches ;  wing,  18  inches ;  tarsus, 
3  inches;  culmen,  2.15  inches. 

Young —  Similar  to  the  adult,  but  the  white  cheek  patches  are 
speckled  with  black,  and  they  are  somewhat  smaller. 

Downy  young — Above,  golden  olive-green;  below  forehead  and 
sides  of  head,  pale  greenish  yellow. 

Eggs  —  Five  to  nine  in  number,  dull  white,  measure  3.50  by  2.50 
inches. 

Habitat  —  Breeds  from  Newfoundland  and  Anticosti,  Indiana,  pos- 
sibly Ohio,  Michigan,  Minnesota,  Nebraska,  Colorado,  Utah, 
Nevada,  and  Oregon,  north  to  northern  Labrador,  Hudson  Bay, 
lower  Mackenzie,  the  interior  of  Alaska  (  ?),  and  Cook  Inlet  ( ?)  ; 
said  to  have  formerly  bred  in  Massachusetts,  and  a  set  of  eggs 
recorded  from  Tennessee.  Winters  from  New  Jersey,  occasionally 
north  to  Massachusetts,  Nova  Scotia,  and  Newfoundland,  Ohio, 
Indiana,  Kentucky,  Missouri,  South  Dakota  rarely,  Nebraska, 
Utah,  Oregon,  and  British  Columbia,  south  to  Florida,  Jamaica, 
the  Gulf  states,  Mexico,  and  Los  Angeles  County,  California. 
Less  common  on  the  Pacific  Coast.  Occurs  in  Bermuda. 


Goose-shooting  233 

Formerly  the  wild  goose  bred  throughout  tem- 
perate North  America,  and  at  the  present  time 
occasionally  breeds  within  our  boundary,  in  North 
Dakota  and  the  adjacent  states.  The  large  body 
of  western  geese,  however,  pass  on  to  the  country 
lying  north  and  west  of  Hudson  Bay,  the  At- 
lantic geese  breeding  in  Labrador  and  to  the  north 
and  west  of  it,  and  in  Newfoundland.  In  the  Hud- 
son Bay  region  they  are  among  the  first  spring 
arrivals,  and  the  foremost  stragglers  are  seen  in 
April.  By  early  May  large  numbers  have  arrived  ; 
for  a  time  they  remain  in  flocks,  and  frequent  the 
shores  and  shallow  water,  but  soon  separate  into 
pairs  and  select  some  small  inland  lake  or  marsh. 
The  nest  is  usually  on  the  ground,  carefully  formed 
of  grasses  and  weeds,  of  large  size  and  somewhat 
raised.  Sometimes  a  stump  is  chosen,  and  there 
are  instances  of  the  birds  nesting  in  trees,  using 
the  deserted  nests  of  hawks  or  ravens. 

In  the  Okanogan  district  of  British  Columbia 
the  Canada  goose  is  said  to  breed  frequently  in 
trees  in  the  deserted  nests  of  hawks.  Mr.  Charles 
de  B.  Green  reports  finding  there  in  the  same 
nest  in  a  tree,  two  eggs  of  the  osprey  and  three  of 
this  species,  both  ospreys  and  Canada  geese  being 
present  and  complaining.  One  egg  of  the  goose 
was  left  in  the  nest,  and  a  week  later  he  found  the 
osprey  sitting  on  this  egg  while  the  geese  were 
not  seen  in  the  vicinity. 


234  The  Water-Jowl  Family 

The  little  goslings  at  once  accompany  the  old 
birds  to  the  water  and  quickly  become  expert  in 
diving  and  hiding.  In  July  the  parents  moult,  and 
are  for  a  time  unable  to  fly.  While  in  this  help- 
less state  they  are  eagerly  hunted  by  natives. 
The  mortality  at  this  time  migh*t  account  for  the 
fact  that  we  seldom  see  more  than  three  young 
birds  in  one  family.  Early  in  September  they  re- 
assemble on  the  larger  bodies  of  water  and  await 
a  favorable  time  for  departure.  Restless  at  the 
thought  of  the  long  flight,  with  the  first  fair  wind 
the  procession  starts.  Small  flocks  lead  the  way, 
and  soon  the  entire  multitude  has  gone.  Shortly 
we  hear  them  within  our  boundaries.  By  the 
middle  of  October  they  are  well  established  for 
the  fall,  and  no  visitor  is  more  welcome.  Their 
honking  tells  of  frosts  and  cold  nights.  The  ad- 
vance guards  appear  in  Dakota,  Minnesota,  and 
Montana,  and  along  the  coasts  at  about  the  same 
time.  Successive  relays  augment  the  first  comers, 
and  by  early  November  they  congregate  in  vast 
flocks.  As  they  assemble  on  their  favorite  feed- 
ing-grounds, the  host  presents  an  impressive 
sight.  The  ground  selected  is  well  protected 
from  any  attack,  no  foe  can  approach  unnoticed 
and  unchallenged.  Ever  on  the  alert  and  wary, 
the  flock  is  guarded  by  sentinels  tried  in  the 
service,  who  know  well  the  arts  of  man.  While 
undisturbed  they  indulge  in  more  or  less  gabble 


Goose-shooting  235 

among  themselves,  but  when  their  suspicions  are 
aroused  — silence  !  Every  neck  is  craned,  another 
second  and  flapping  wings  announce  they  are  off. 
There  is  no  alarm  cry,  and  only  when  once  under 
way  and  out  of  danger  is  their  honking  heard. 
The  flight  is  in  lines  or  wedges,  the  birds  in 
regular  array  under  the  command  of  an  experi- 
enced gander.  On  the  migrations  their  power  of 
flight  is  remarkable.  All  day  long,  and  the  dis- 
tant music  at  night,  tells  of  the  tedious  journey 
far  overhead  still  going  on.  Straight  for  the 
destination,  they  seldom  tarry  and  then  only  when 
weariness  or  storm  compel.  Under  these  cir- 
cumstances the  birds  are  occasionally  visitors  in 
unexpected  places.  One  spring  two  young 
Canada  geese  were  seen  in  a  cemetery  on  the 
outskirts  of  New  Haven,  and  remained  in  the 
vicinity  for  a  day  or  more. 

The  majority  of  geese  frequenting  the  Atlantic 
states  follow  the  coast  line  in  the  fall,  tarrying  in 
the  large  shallow  bays  of  Massachusetts,  Long 
Island,  and  New  Jersey,  but  wintering  in  the 
Chesapeake  and  off  North  and  South  Carolina. 
Those  passing  through  the  middle  of  the  United 
States  travel  along  the  Mississippi  Valley  and 
winter  in  Texas,  Louisiana,  and  the  adjacent  Gulf 
Coast. 

The  approximate  dates  of  occurrence  in  these 
localities  are :  Massachusetts,  Long  Island,  and 


236  The  Water-fowl  Family 

New  Jersey,  November  20  to  December  15, 
March  7  to  April  i  ;  Chesapeake  Bay  and  south, 
November  15  to  March  i ;  Dakota,  Minnesota, 
and  Montana,  October  15  to  December  i,  March 
15  to  April  7;  Kansas  and  Nebraska,  a  little 
earlier  in  the  spring  and  later  in  the  fall.  South 
of  the  United  States  the  bird  is  not  abundant. 

In  Massachusetts  the  small  fresh-water  lakes 
near  the  coast  were  formerly  favorite  resorts  for 
Canada  geese  in  spring  and  late  fall,  and  at  the 
present  time  many  are  killed  by  the  clubs  now 
in  possession  of  the  best  locations.  Here  trained 
wild  geese  are  employed  and  decoying  reaches 
its  highest  art.  Blinds  are  built  in  close  prox- 
imity to  the  club-house,  surrounded  by  a  large 
stand  of  wooden  stools.  Just  outside  of  these 
the  live  birds  are  tied.  A  watcher  is  on  duty 
day  and  night.  If  the  honking  of  a  far-off  flock 
is  heard,  fliers  are  let  loose ;  geese  that  fly  within 
sight  of  the  wild  birds,  perhaps  mingle  with  them, 
then  returning  to  the  decoys.  In  this  way  the 
entire  flock  is  brought  within  range  and  exposed 
to  a  merciless  fire. 

Along  the  coast  of  North  Carolina  most  of  the 
geese  in  quiet  weather  spend  the  day  well  out  of 
reach  offshore,  or  if  much  molested  in  the  safe 
retreat  of  the  ocean,  crossing  the  bars  at  the  inter- 
vals to  feed  and  drink,  at  dusk  seeking  the  shelter 
of  the  bays.  When  stormy  or  windy  they  remain 


Goose- shooting  237 

inside,  frequenting  protected  water  and  the  larger 
ponds  on  the  marshes.  Now  is  the  best  oppor- 
tunity for  shooting  them.  Live  Canada  geese 
decoys  are  staked  out  in  front  of  the  blinds,  care 
being  taken  to  tie  them  in  water  they  can  walk 
in.  The  favorite  locations  are  small  bodies  of 
water  or  bays  in  close  proximity  to  the  feeding- 
ground,  or  points  and  bars  along  the  line  of  flight. 
Should  heavy  weather  break  up  the  large  flocks 
and  drive  the  birds  low  down,  they  come  to  the 
stool  readily  and  often  forty  or  fifty  are  killed  in 
a  day.  The  wild  decoy  appreciates  well  his  part 
and  uses  all  the  means  in  his  power  to  allure  the 
on-coming  birds,  calling  to  them  and  flapping  his 
wings. 

In  the  Western  states  geese  feed  on  stubbles, 
and  they  are  shot  from  blinds  or  pits.  If  not 
much  hunted  they  decoy  readily,  but  soon  learn 
to  avoid  danger.  The  bird  is  very  fond  of  spend- 
ing the  night  on  fresh-water  ponds  and  lakes,  and 
this  habit  is  taken  advantage  of.  At  dusk  or  soon 
after  they  begin  to  arrive,  small  flocks  leading  up 
against  the  wind,  each  in  the  same  line.  Honk- 
ing usually  betrays  their  presence,  louder  and 
louder  until  a  black  line  appears  for  an  instant 
overhead,  and  the  thud  of  a  falling  bird  follows 
the  gun's  flash.  A  little  of  this  shooting  teaches 
them  to  come  to  their  resting-place  from  various 
directions,  high  up,  and  often  noiselessly. 


238  The  Water-fowl  Family 

When  once  quiet  for  the  night,  they  can  read- 
ily be  approached  by  a  light,  huddling  together 
at  the  strange  sight.  Night  hunting,  however, 
is  at  the  present  time  in  less  repute  than  formerly 
and  is  fortunately  little  resorted  to.  Geese  are 
sometimes  killed  in  numbers  from  ice  blinds, 
when  small  holes  of  open  water  are  all  that 
remain  in  the  frozen  bay.  This  method  is  fre- 
quently employed  along  the  northern  coast,  Nova 
Scotia,  Prince  Edward's  Island,  and  Cape  Breton. 
A  wounded  goose  is  often  exceedingly  difficult  to 
capture,  swimming  and  diving  well  or  skulking 
with  the  head  just  in  sight.  The  food  consists  of 
various  water  grasses  and  vegetables,  shellfish 
and  Crustacea ;  grain,  when  the  locality  affords  it ; 
in  the  summer,  insects  and  berries. 

For  the  table  the  young  bird  is  excellent,  and 
it  is  a  common  practice  in  shooting  them,  to  pick 
out  when  possible  the  smaller  geese,  for  the  old 
birds  are  generally  decidedly  larger. 

The  Canada  goose  has  long  been  domesticated 
and  often  breeds  in  captivity.  When  once  two 
captive  birds  have  paired,  they  not  infrequently 
breed  regularly.  I  saw  a  pair  of  Canada  geese 
on  the  Magdalen  Islands  that  raised  a  brood 
each  spring,  selecting  for  their  nest  a  large  brush 
pile,  some  hundred  yards  from  the  house.  The 
gander  carefully  protected  the  nest  during  the 
absence  of  the  goose,  keeping  off  any  intruder. 


Goose-shooting  239 

The  hybrids  with  domestic  geese  are  common 
and  supposed  to  be  a  superior  market  bird. 
While  hunted  relentlessly  from  the  breeding- 
ground  to  the  winter  home,  the  cunning  of  the 
wild  goose  has  stood  him  well,  and  it  is  a  pleasant 
thought  to  feel  that,  perhaps,  one  member  of  our 
family  of  water-fowl  holds  his  own. 


HUTCHINS'    GOOSE 
(Branta  canadensis  hutchinsit) 

Similar  to  the  Canada  goose  in  plumage,  but  smaller  in  size.  Tail 
of  14  to  1 6  feathers  ;  in  Canada  goose,  1 8  to  20  feathers. 

Meastirements  —  Length,  30  inches;  wing,  16.25  inches;  tail,  5 
inches  ;  tarsus,  2.75  inches. 

Eggs  —  Six  to  eight  in  number,  dull  white,  measure  3  by  2.05 
inches. 

Habitat  —  Breeds  from  Hudson  Bay  and  possibly  British  Columbia 
north  probably  to  Cumberland,  the  coasts  and  islands  of  the 
Arctic  near  Fort  Anderson  and  Kotzebue  Sound,  the  Bering 
Sea  coast  of  Alaska,  and  on  the  Aleutian,  Commander,  and 
Kuril  islands.  Winters  from  Kansas,  Colorado,  Nevada,  and 
British  Columbia,  south  to  Louisiana,  Texas,  California,  San 
Quentin  Bay,  Lower  California,  Arizona,  and  doubtless  Mexico. 
In  the  migrations,  very  rare  east  of  the  Mississippi  Valley,  but 
recorded  from  Wisconsin,  Michigan,  Indiana,  Ohio,  Maine, 
Massachusetts,  Connecticut,  New  York,  Virginia,  and  North 
Carolina.  Recorded  also  from  Japan. 

While  resembling  the  Canada  goose  in  plu- 
mage, the  Hutchins'  goose  is  readily  distinguished 
by  its  size  and  by  the  different  character  of  the 
note.  As  a  rule  the  bird  is  less  wary. 

On  the  eastern  coast  specimens  of  the  Hutchins' 


240  The  Water-fowl  Family 

goose  have  been  taken  off  Cape  Cod,  and  at 
times  appear  in  Boston  markets  from  this  locality. 
On  Long  Island  the  bird  is  well  known,  though 
rare,  and  goes  by  the  name  of  mud  goose.  Off 
North  and  South  Carolina  this  goose  is  occasion- 
ally seen  in  small  flocks  by  itself,  or  in  company 
with  the  Canada  geese.  Here  it  is  called  gab- 
bling goose.  Along  the  Pacific  Coast  the  bird  is 
a  common  variety,  appearing  early  in  October, 
and  frequenting  the  salt-water  marshes,  often 
going  a  considerable  distance  back  from  the  shore. 

When  inland,  they  are  sometimes  approached 
on  horseback  or  driven  upon  by  oxen.  Many 
are  killed  in  the  line  of  flight.  They  decoy  readily 
on  their  feeding-grounds.  Their  food  consists 
of  shellfish  and  Crustacea,  various  water  vege- 
tables, and  when  opportunity  provides,  grain. 
The  flesh,  at  times  fishy,  if  the  birds  have  been 
feeding  inland  may  be  excellent,  and  is  of  a 
whiter  character  than  that  of  the  Canada  goose. 
In  Dakota  and  along  the  Mississippi  Valley,  the 
Hutchins'  goose  is  more  common  in  spring  than 
fall,  large  flocks  passing  through  the  interior  in 
March  on  their  way  north. 

The  breeding-ground  is  within  the  Arctic  cir- 
cle, on  the  shores  and  islands  of  the  Arctic  Sea, 
also  on  the  lower  Anderson  River. 

The  birds  separate  from  the  flock  in  pairs  early 
in  June ;  the  nest  is  placed  in  marshes  near  the 


Goose-shooting  241 

shore  or  on  the  sand  beaches.  It  has  been  found 
near  the  base  of  cliffs,  in  company  with  the  nests 
of  other  sea-birds.  In  one  instance  the  deserted 
nest  of  a  crow,  in  a  tree  about  nine  feet  from  the 
ground,  was  utilized.  This  might  have  been 
accounted  for  by  the  fact  that  the  ground  was 
covered  with  snow.  (B.  B.  &  R.) 

The  weight  of  this  bird  is  from  three  to  six 
pounds.  Other  names  are  little  Canada  goose, 
little  gray  goose,  prairie  goose,  bay  goose. 

THE    WHITE-CHEEKED   GOOSE 
(Branta  canadensis  occidentalism 

This  form  is  the  western  representative  of  the  Canada  goose,  found 
along  the  Pacific  Coast  from  Alaska  to  California.  A  differen- 
tiation is  perhaps  questionable,  and  the  two  varieties  un- 
doubtedly occur  in  company  with  each  other.  The  distinction 
is  in  the  back  and  wings,  which  are  of  a  lighter  brown  than  in 
the  Canada  goose,  the  lower  parts  being  almost  as  dark,  and  by 
a  white  collar  around  the  lower  part  of  the  neck,  where  the 
black  terminates :  this  collar  is  noticed  in  the  fall  and  winter, 
but  is  absent  in  the  spring  and  summer  plumage.  The  meas- 
urements are  similar  to  those  of  Branta  canadensis. 

Habitat  —  Breeds  from  northeastern  California  to  Sitka,  and  possi- 
bly Cook  Inlet,  Alaska.  Winters  chiefly  in  the  interior  of  Cali- 
fornia. Reported  from  Michigan,  and  thought  to  occur  at  Fort 
Anderson ;  both  probably  mistakes. 

The  white-cheeked  goose  has  a  limited  distri- 
bution, and  is  not  a  particularly  well-known  bird. 
In  the  winter  it  ranges  south  into  the  interior  of 
California. 


242  The  Water-fowl  Family 

These  birds  breed  in  detached  pairs  in  Okano 
gan  County,  Washington,  sometimes  gathering 
in  the  fields  to  feed.  A  nest  found  there  by  Mr. 
William  L.  Dawson  was  situated  on  a  shelf  of 
rock  directly  over  the  gorge  of  the  Columbia 
River.  Four  goslings,  bright  grass-green  in 
color,  mottled  with  olive,  nestled  there  on  a  bed 
of  down,  the  female  flying  from  the  nest  as  Mr. 
Dawson  approached. 

CACKLING   GOOSE 
{Bernicla  canadensis  minima) 

This  species  bears  the  same  relation  to  the  white-cheeked  goose  as 
Hutchins'  goose  does  to  the  Canada. 

Adult  —  The  white  cheek  patches  are  separated  by  a  black  bar 
about  .75  an  inch  wide.  It  has  a  white  collar  at  the  base  of  the 
black  neck,  between  it  and  the  upper  gray  of  the  breast.  Tail 
feathers  14  in  number.  In  the  young  bird  the  white  collar  is 
less  marked. 

Measurements — Length,  24  inches;  wing,  13.50  to  14  inches;  cul- 
men,  i.io  inches  ;  tarsus,  2.50  inches. 

Eggs  —  Five  to  eight  in  number,  white,  measure  2.80  by  1.95 
inches. 

Habitat  —  Breeds  on  the  Alaskan  shores  of  Bering  Sea,  chiefly  on 
or  near  the  lower  Yukon.  Winters  from  British  Columbia 
south  to  Ventura  County,  California.  Reported  in  the  migra- 
tions from  the  Pribilof  and  Aleutian  islands,  and  Hawaii,  and 
in  the  United  States  as  far  east  as  Michigan,  Wisconsin,  and 
Colorado. 

The  cackling  goose  differs  from  the  white- 
cheeked  goose  in  its  smaller  size  and  in  the 
number  of  its  tail  feathers,  which,  in  the  former 
variety,  are  eighteen  to  twenty  in  number.  It 


Goose-shooting  243 

differs  from  the  Hutchins'  goose  in  the  black  bar 
separating  the  white  cheek  patches,  and  in  having 
a  white  collar  about  the  neck.  Both  of  these  are 
wanting  in  the  Hutchins'.  It  also  averages  some- 
what smaller,  being  next  to  the  Ross's  goose,  the 
smallest  of  our  geese. 

This  goose  ranges  from  the  mouth  of  the 
Yukon  along  the  coast  to  southern  California, 
and  in  localities  is  a  common  variety.  Through 
the  Mississippi  Valley  the  bird  occurs  but  rarely. 
The  summer  home  is  in  Alaska,  about  the  mouth 
of  the  Yukon,  where  it  breeds  in  large  numbers, 
and  quantities  of  the  birds  and  eggs  are  taken  by 
the  natives  for  food.  The  nest  is  on  the  ground, 
generally  close  to  water,  and  composed  of  grass 
or  reeds,  and  lined  with  down.  The  young  birds 
are  hatched  in  early  July,  and  by  September  are 
gathered  in  flocks,  appearing  along  our  Pacific 
Coast  early  in  October.  The  note  distinguishes 
it  from  the  larger  geese,  being  a  low  honk. 
The  flesh  is  excellent. 


COMMON    BRANT 
{Branta  bernicla) 

Similar  to  Branta  bernicla  glaucogastra,  but  with  the  lower  parts  as 
dark  as  in  Branta  nigricans ;  the  white  on  the  neck,  however, 
not  meeting  in  front. 

Habitat — Breeds  "in  the  Taimur  Peninsula,  Siberia,  in  Nova 
Zembla,  Franz-Josef  Land,  and  Spitzbergen."  (Seebohm  fide 
Coues.)  Passes  south  in  the  winter  on  the  coasts  of  Asia  and 


244  The  Water-fowl  Family 


northern  Europe  as  far  as  Egypt.  Possibly  some  of  the  birds 
from  eastern  North  America,  identified  as  B.  nigricans,  belong 
to  this  form. 


BRANT   GOOSE.      WHITE-BELLIED   BRANT. 

COMMON    BRANT 
(Branta  bernicla  glaucogastrd) 

Adult  male  and  female  —  Head,  neck,  and  upper  part  of  breast,  and 
back  at  base  of  neck,  black ;  transverse  streaks  of  white  on 
each  side  of  the  middle  of  the  neck ;  above,  brownish  gray,  the 
feathers  tipped  with  a  paler  shade  ;  under  parts,  grayish  white  ; 
anal  region,  pure  white ;  middle  of  rump,  dark  brown ;  upper 
and  under  tail-coverts,  white;  tail,  black;  bill,  legs,  and  feet, 
black ;  iris,  brown. 

Measurements  —  Length,  24  to  30  inches;  wing,  13  inches;  tarsus, 
2.40  inches;  culmen,  1.50  inches. 

Young —  Plumage  similar  to  the  adult,  but  with  white  bars  across 
the  wings.  The  white  patch  on  the  neck  is  less  marked  or 
absent  entirely ;  under  parts  lighter. 

Eggs  —  Four  to  six  in  number,  grayish  white,  measure  2.70  by  1.80 
inches. 

Habitat  —  "Breeds  only  within  the  Arctic  Circle."  (Coues.)  "In 
Arctic  America,  from  the  west  coast  of  Greenland  as  far 
west  as  the  Parry  Islands,  and  north  of  latitude  73°  as  far 
as  land  is  known  to  extend."  (Seebohm  fide  Coues.)  This 
bird  has  been  said  to  breed  on  the  coasts  and  islands  of 
Hudson  Bay,  and  the  interior  of  Labrador,  north  to  the 
Arctic  Sea,  and  at  Pointe  des  Monts,  Quebec,  but  probably 
all  are  mistakes.  Winters  on  the  Atlantic  Coast,  from 
Massachusetts  south  to  North  Carolina,  and  rarely  to  Florida ; 
is  common  on  the  St.  Lawrence  River  in  migration,  but 
rare  elsewhere  in  the  interior,  occurring  west  to  Manitoba, 
Minnesota,  South  Dakota,  Kansas,  Colorado,  Louisiana 
and  Texas  (?),  and  reported  also  from  western  New 
York,  Ohio  (?),  Indiana,  Illinois,  Michigan,  and  Wisconsin. 
Occurs  also  in  Great  Britain,  but  less  frequently  than  B. 
bernicla. 


Goose-shooting  245 

The  breeding-ground  of  the  brant  is  in  the 
remote  North,  and  the  nest  was  first  discovered 
by  Mr.  Feilden,  June  21,  1875,  in  latitude  82°  33'. 
Subsequently,  it  has  been  found  breeding  abun- 
dantly on  Parry  Islands,  the  nests  being  numer- 
ous and  in  close  proximity  to  each  other.  They 
were  placed  on  the  beach,  well  lined  with  down 
and  feathers,  and  contained  from  three  to  four 
eggs.  (B.  B.  &  R.)  About  Beliefs  Strait  the  birds 
were  found  nesting  in  the  cliffs.  The  brant  reach 
their  breeding-grounds  late  in  June,  and  soon 
pair  off.  The  gander  protects  the  nest  in  the 
absence  of  the  goose.  In  July  and  early  August 
the  old  birds  moult,  and  at  this  time  are  killed  in 
numbers  by  the  natives,  who  salt  them  for  winter 
use.  With  the  first  favorable  winds  in  late  Sep- 
tember, the  migration  south  begins.  They  arrive 
at  the  winter  quarters,  in  the  vicinity  of  the  Chesa- 
peake and  the  coast  to  the  south,  about  the  first 
of  November,  spending  but  little  time  en  route. 
The  birds  are  first  seen  on  Long  Island  by  the 
middle  of  October,  and  at  this  time  show  evidence 
of  a  long  flight,  being  in  poor  flesh  and  ready  to 
spend  most  of  their  time  at  rest.  Off  the  North 
and  South  Carolina  coasts,  the  brant  gather  in 
vast  flocks,  in  calm  weather  remaining  bedded  in 
great  numbers;  they  fly  at  intervals  from  one 
feeding-ground  to  another,  the  entire  flock  mov- 
ing at  once.  The  flight  is  in  long,  wavy  lines, 


246  The  Water-fowl  Family 

one  minute  high  up,  the  next  just  over  the  water's 
edge.  This  undulating  character  is  unmistakable, 
and  marks  the  birds  afar.  They  keep  in  the  open 
water,  avoiding  carefully  the  points  of  land  and 
the  bush  blinds  which  are  scattered  through  the 
bay,  settling  on  the  beds  of  eel  grass  that  abound 
in  these  shallow  sounds.  They  pluck  it  up  in 
quantities,  feeding  at  their  leisure.  While  feed- 
ing, the  body  is  kept  above  water,  the  bird  dipping 
down  with  its  neck.  Brant  have  a  peculiar  fond- 
ness for  sand,  and  their  habit  of  frequenting  the 
bars  and  beaches  is  known  as  "sanding."  The 
noise  from  a  large  number  is  great,  being  a  ronk, 
ronk.  During  windy  or  stormy  weather  the  birds 
become  uneasy  and  restless.  The  congregation 
breaks  up  into  small  flocks.  String  after  string 
is  seen  following  the  same  certain  line  of  flight. 
Now  they  decoy  readily.  If  on  the  point  of  pass- 
ing by  without  noticing,  a  quick  motion  from  the 
blind  will  often  attract  attention  to  the  stool. 
One  or  two  birds  circle,  and  the  flock  swings 
in.  A  wounded  bird  is  easily  captured,  as  it 
does  not  dive,  but  skulks  with  the  head  out  of 
water. 

On  Long  Island,  batteries,  anchored  in  the  line 
of  flight  and  surrounded  by  a  large  number  of 
decoys,  are  employed.  Occasionally  the  birds 
lead  within  range  of  the  smaller  islands,  though 
seldom  flying  over  land. 


Goose-shooting  247 

On  Cape  Cod,  brant  are  found  in  the  spring 
and  fall ;  they  are  shot  from  boxes  sunk  on  the 
long  sandy  points,  reaching  out  into  the  bay  or 
on  the  bars.  Live  brant  decoys  are  used  if  possi- 
ble. Here  the  flight  is  regulated  by  the  tides,  so 
the  time  for  shooting  is  short.  During  the  last 
of  the  ebb  and  the  first  of  the  flow,  the  birds  feed 
on  the  flats. 

Sometime  in  April  comes  a  pleasant  day,  warm 
and  sunny,  with  a  southwest  wind.  The  several 
thousand  brant  in  Chatham  Bay  feed  greedily 
until  the  rising  tide  removes  their  food  from  reach. 
Now  they  assemble  in  deep  water  in  the  centre  of 
the  bay,  study  the  weather,  and  discuss  the  advis- 
ability of  journeying  toward  their  summer  home. 
Soon  fifteen  or  twenty  birds  take  wing,  fly  back 
and  forth  over  the  others,  honking  loudly,  and 
circling  ever  higher  until  they  have  reached  a 
considerable  altitude ;  then  the  long  line  swings 
straight,  headed  northeast.  Out  over  the  beach, 
over  the  ocean  it  goes,  and  the  birds  in  it  will  not 
be  seen  again.  Then  another  flock  follows,  tak- 
ing exactly  the  same  course ;  flock  after  flock 
succeeds,  and  the  movement  is  kept  up  until  dark. 
You  may  sit  in  the  blind  next  day  or  sail  across 
the  bay,  you  will  see  no  brant  save  a  few  strag- 
glers: branting  is  through  for  the  year. 

The  line  of  flight  from  Cape  Cod  is  to  the 
islands  in  the  Gulf  of  St.  Lawrence,  Prince 


248  The  Water-fowl  Family 

Edward's  Island,  Nova  Scotia,  and  Newfoundland, 
the  birds  always  keeping  close  to  the  coast.  They 
arrive  here  during  the  last  of  April,  and  in  May. 
On  the  Magdalen  Islands  at  this  time  the  lagoons 
are  sometimes  covered  with  brant.  The  natives 
shoot  them  from  the  bars  when  a  heavy  wind 
drives  the  flocks  well  in  toward  land,  or  by  put- 
ting brush  or  seaweed  in  a  small  boat,  drift  or 
quietly  paddle  within  range.  Like  all  our  water- 
fowl, brant  are  easily  killed  at  night,  swimming 
together  in  a  close  mass  at  the  approach  of  a 
light.  Under  these  circumstances  the  havoc 
caused  is  great ;  often  ten  or  more  birds  are  killed 
by  a  single  shot. 

They  never  breed  in  captivity,  but  become  gen- 
tle and  tame  and  are  readily  cared  for.  The  flesh 
of  the  young  bird  is  excellent;  the  old  bird  is 
rather  tough  for  the  table.  The  weight  of  the 
brant  is  from  three  to  six  pounds. 


BLACK    BRANT 
{Branta  nigricans) 

Adult  male  and  female  —  Head,  neck,  and  upper  parts  of  breast 
black.  The  middle  of  the  neck  has  a  pure  white  collar  inter- 
rupted behind,  with  oblique  white  streaks  running  upward  for  an 
inch  outside  of  the  ring.  Upper  parts,  breast,  and  abdomen, 
dark  plumbeous.  Sides  of  the  rump,  anal  region,  upper  and 
under  tail-coverts,  snow-white.  Tail  black.  Bill  and.  feet, 
black.  Iris,  brown. 

Measurements  —  Length,  25  inches;  wing,  13  inches;  oilmen,  1.35 
inches;  tarsus,  2.50  inches. 


Goose-shooting  249 

Young  —  Similar  to  the  adult,  but  the  collar  is  obscure.  The  greater 
wing-coverts  and  secondaries,  broadly  tipped  with  white.  The 
feathers  of  the  sides,  uniform  gray,  without  white  tips. 

The  black  brant  differs  from  the  common  brant  in  having  a 
white  collar  about  the  front  of  the  neck,  in  the  latter  bird  the 
sides  of  the  neck  being  merely  streaked  with  white.  The  black 
brant  is  characterized  also  by  darker  breast  and  belly. 

Eggs  —  Four  to  seven  in  number,  grayish  white,  measure  2.80  by 
i. 80  inches. 

Habitat —  Breeds  at  Liverpool  Bay  on  the  Arctic  Coast  and  at  Point 
Barrow,  Alaska,  occurring  abundantly  in  spring  and  rarely  in 
fall  on  Kotzebue  Sound  and  the  Bering  Sea  coast  of  Alaska. 
Winters  on  the  Pacific  Coast  from  British  Columbia  south  to 
Magdalena  Bay,  Lower  California,  in  Nevada,  and  probably  r 
Utah.  Recorded  also  as  a  straggler  from  Texas,  Minnesota, 
Massachusetts,  New  York,  New  Jersey,  and  Virginia.  Reported 
also  from  near  Wrangell  Land,  Bering  Island,  and  Hawaii,  and 
a  "dark-bellied"  brant  breeds  in  the  Yenisei  Delta.  Occurs 
inland  in  migrations  to  Fort  Yukon,  Okanogan  County,  Wash- 
ington, and  eastern  Oregon. 


The  black  brant  is  rare  on  the  Yukon,  but 
passes  the  western  edge  of  St.  Michael's  Island 
in  immense  flocks,  about  the  middle  of  May,  re- 
turning the  last  week  in  September. 

Its  breeding-ground  is  on  the  shores  of  the 
Arctic  Ocean.  Some  of  the  nests  are  placed  on 
small  islands  in  the  neighboring  fresh-water  ponds, 
or  about  the  mouth  of  the  rivers.  The  nest  is  a 
depression  in  the  ground  lined  with  down,  contain- 
ing four  or  five,  sometimes  six,  eggs.  These  birds 
keep  well  to  the  sea,  and  except  in  the  locali- 
ties where  they  nest,  are  seldom  seen  on  fresh 
water. 


250  The  H/ater-fowl  Family 

The  salt-water  bays  along  the  coast,  in  the  vi- 
cinity of  San  Diego  and  farther  south,  off  southern 
and  Lower  California,  are  the  winter  homes  of  the 
black  brant.  North  of  San  Diego  the  bird  is 
less  common,  and  probably  the  flight  over  a 
large  part  of  the  distance  from  Alaska  south  is 
over  water. 

The  bird  is  killed  from  the  sandy  points  and 
islands,  in  the  lagoons  and  bays.  The  flight  is  on 
the  ebb  tide  and  for  a  short  time,  but  the  flocks 
come  fast.  Flying  in  undulating  lines,  close  to 
the  water,  now  high  up,  they  first  appear,  a  dark 
line  in  the  far  distance,  steadily  growing  larger 
and  blacker  till  they  hover  at  the  edge  of  the 
decoys. 

The  habits  are  similar  to  its  eastern  relative's. 
It  feeds  on  various  grasses  and  seaweeds,  occa- 
sionally Crustacea.  When  young  the  flesh  is  ten- 
der and  palatable.  The  old  birds  are  tough,  and 
often  have  a  fishy  taste. 

BARNACLE    GOOSE 
(Branta  leucopsis) 

Adult  male  and  female  —  Lores,  back  of  head,  neck,  and  breast, 
black  ;  remainder  of  head,  nearly  white  ;  wings  and  back,  slate, 
the  feathers  marked  with  a  subterminal  black  bar,  and  a  terminal 
one  of  white;  flanks,  brownish  gray,  feathers  with  white  tips; 
under  parts,  grayish  white  ;  bill  and  feet,  black ;  iris,  dark  brown. 

Measurements — Length,  25  inches;  wing,  15  inches;  tarsus,  2.75 
inches;  culmen,  1.25  inches. 


CANADA    GEESE 


Goose-shooting  251 

Young —  Cheeks,  spotted  with  black ;  wing-coverts  and  feathers  of 
back,  tinged  with  rufous  ;  flanks,  barred  with  gray. 

Habitat  —  Breeds  in  the  northern  part  of  the  eastern  hemisphere  as 
far  north  as  Spitzbergen.  Winters  in  Great  Britain  and  western 
Europe,  occurring  south  to  Spain.  Occurs  in  Iceland  and  so 
regularly  in  Greenland  that  it  has  been  thought  to  breed  there, 
and  it  has  been  recorded  on  the  North  American  continent  from 
Hudson  Bay,  Nova  Scotia  (doubtless  escaped  from  captivity), 
Vermont,  Massachusetts,  New  York,  and  North  Carolina. 

The  barnacle  goose  is  only  accidental  in  North 
America,  and  it  is  a  matter  of  doubt  if  most  of  the 
specimens  taken  along  our  shores  have  not  escaped 
from  confinement.  A  barnacle  goose,  and  the  first 
one  procured,  was  taken  at  Rupert  House,  on  the 
southern  end  of  Hudson  Bay,  by  Mr.  B.  R.  Ross, 
undoubtedly  a  straggler  from  Greenland.  It  has 
also  been  taken  in  Nova  Scotia,  Long  Island,  and 
Currituck  Sound,  North  Carolina.  This  goose  is 
about  the  size  of  a  brant  and  is  a  handsomer  bird 
than  the  other  species.  It  passes  much  of  its  time 
on  land  and  is  specially  noisy  when  feeding  and 
on  the  wing.  Little  is  known  about  the  breeding 
habits,  but  the  eggs  are  said  to  be  of  a  yellowish 
cream  color.  Birds  of  this  species  have  been 
known  to  live  thirty-two  years  in  captivity. 

EMPEROR    GOOSE 
(Philacte  canagica) 

Adult  male  and  female  —  Head  and  neck,  white,  stained,  especially 
in  front,  with  rusty ;  throat  and  neck  frontally,  brownish  black 
or  dusky  gray;  feathers  on  lower  neck,  tipped  slightly  with 


252  The  Water-fowl  Family 

white ;  the  remainder  of  the  plumage,  blue-gray ;  each  feather 
with  a  narrow  terminal  bar  of  white,  and  a  broader  subterminal 
bar  of  black ;  these  markings  are  specially  distinct  on  the  upper 
parts,  breast,  and  sides,  but  nearly  wanting  on  the  abdomen ; 
greater  coverts  and  secondaries,  dark  slate,  edged  with  white ; 
primaries  with  their  coverts,  slate ;  tail,  at  the  base,  slate,  re- 
mainder, white ;  upper  and  lower  tail-coverts,  slate ;  bill,  pale 
purplish  ;  the  lower  mandible,  dark  horn-color,  with  a  white  spot 
on  each  side ;  legs  and  feet,  orange ;  iris,  hazel. 

Measurements  —  Length,  26  inches;  wing,  from  14.50  to  15.50 
inches;  tarsus,  2.60  inches;  culmen,  1.60  inches. 

Young —  Somewhat  similar  to  the  adult,  with  the  head  and  neck 
slate  color ;  top  of  the  head,  speckled  with  white ;  the  barring 
of  the  feathers  less  distinct  than  in  the  adult;  bill  and  feet, 
dusky. 

Eggs  —  Five  to  eight  in  number,  white,  measure  3.35  by  2.12 
inches. 

Habitat  —  Breeds  on  the  coast  of  Alaska  from  mouth  of  the  Kus- 
kokwin  north  to  Kotzebue  Sound.  Winters  chiefly  on  the 
Aleutian  Islands,  very  rarely  south  to  British  Columbia  and  the 
Sacramento  Valley,  California,  occurring  on  the  Pribilofs  in 
migration. 

This  bird  is  the  most  beautiful  of  our  geese  and 
outside  of  small  localities  in  Alaska  almost  un- 
known. It  breeds  along  the  northern  coast  and 
adjacent  islands.  The  nest  is  in  a  hollow  depres- 
sion on  the  shore,  composed  of  grass  and  lined 
with  down.  The  emperor  goose  remains  in  the 
North  longer  than  any  other  species,  staying  until 
the  whole  coast  is  icebound,  when  it  migrates  south 
to  open  water,  wintering  about  the  coast  and  islands 
of  southern  Alaska.  The  flight  is  in  pairs  or  in 
flocks  of  four  or  five,  high  in  air  and  strong.  The 
note  is  shrill  and  clear  and  the  bird  exceedingly 


Goose-shooting  253 

shy.  In  certain  localities  the  eggs  and  flesh  serve 
as  an  important  article  of  food  for  the  natives.  The 
diet  is  composed  of  shellfish  and  Crustacea.  The 
flesh  is  strong,  of  a  characteristic  garlicky  odor, 
and  unsuitable  for  the  table.  A  few  specimens  of 
this  bird  have  been  taken  in  California.  Other 
names  for  the  emperor  goose  are  white-headed 
goose,  Nudjarlik, 

BLACK-BELLIED   TREE-DUCK 
(Dendrocygna  autumnalis) 

Adult  male  and  female  —  Similar  in  plumage ;  forehead,  pale  yel- 
lowish brown,  top  of  head,  cinnamon ;  nape  and  line  down  back 
of  neck,  black ;  sides  of  head  and  upper  part  of  neck,  gray ;  chin 
and  throat,  grayish  white  ;  rest  of  neck,  upper  portion  of  breast, 
and  back,  cinnamon-brown ;  middle  of  back,  rump,  and  upper 
tail-coverts,  black ;  the  wing,  when  closed,  shows  a  white  line  for 
nearly  its  entire  length  ;  lower  parts,  yellowish  brown  ;  abdomen, 
flanks,  and  wing-coverts,  black ;  anal  region,  white  spotted  with 
black ;  under  tail-coverts,  white ;  bill,  orange-red  at  the  base  of 
maxilla,  with  a  bluish  nail ;  legs  and  feet,  flesh  color ;  iris,  brown. 

Measurements — Length,  22  inches;  wing,  9.50  inches;  culmen, 
1.90  inches;  tarsus,  2.25  inches. 

Young — Similar  to  adult,  but  duller  in  color;  abdomen  and  sides, 
grayish  white,  with  dusky  bars. 

Downy  young — Upper  parts,  blackish  brown,  with  patches  of  buff 
on  side  of  back  and  on  each  side  of  rump ;  a  bright  buff  stripe 
over  the  cheeks  and  one  from  cheeks  posteriorly,  blackish  brown ; 
under  parts,  pale  buff;  belly,  white. 

Eggs  —  Twelve  to  sixteen  in  number,  ivory-white,  with  greenish 
tinge,  measure  2  inches  by  1.50  inches. 

Habitat  —  Ranges  through  Central  America  and  Mexico,  north  to  the 
lower  Rio  Grande  River,  in  Texas,  breeding  throughout  its  range. 
A  few  are  said  to  occur  on  the  coast  of  Louisiana  all  the  year,  and 
it  has  been  recorded  from  Jamaica  and  Fort  Tejon,  California. 


254  The  Water-fowl  Family 

This  duck  is  common  in  Honduras  and  Trini- 
dad, breeding  in  both  these  localities.  In  Texas 
it  occurs  near  Matamoras  and  Monterey,  and  is 
met  with  near  Galveston  in  winter.  A  single 
specimen  taken  at  Fort  Tejon,  southern  Cali- 
fornia, is  the  only  instance  of  its  capture  in  this 
state.  The  black-bellied  tree-duck  breeds  gener- 
ally throughout  its  range,  choosing  a  hole  in  a 
tree  or  broken  stump,  often  a  mile  or  more  from 
water,  as  the  site  for  its  nest.  This  is  sometimes 
placed  thirty  feet  or  more  from  the  ground,  a 
second  and  third  brood  in  some  instances  being 
raised.  In  April,  1901,  I  found  these  birds  abun- 
dant in  the  vicinity  of  Tampico,  Mexico.  They 
were  most  often  seen  in  small  flocks  of  from  four 
to  ten  on  the  banks  at  the  edge  of  the  lagoon. 
Their  long  legs  gave  them  an  odd  look.  At  our 
approach  they  would  run  together,  raising  their 
long  necks  much  like  geese.  The  flight  was  pe- 
culiar and  characteristic,  low  down  and  in  a  line, 
their  large  wings  with  white  bands  presenting  a 
striking  aspect,  and  giving  the  impression  of  a 
much  larger  bird.  We  saw  them  occasionally  on 
the  smaller  ponds,  and  shot  several,  all  of  them 
males.  In  one  or  two  instances  the  appearance 
of  the  breast  indicated  the  bird  had  been  sitting 
on  eggs.  While  the  males  of  this  species  are 
supposed  to  attend  to  their  own  affairs  during 
the  period  of  incubation,  it  would  seem  as  if  they 


Goose-shooting 


255 


occasionally  assisted  in  nesting  duties.  Once  or 
twice  I  saw  them  near  small  ponds  in  woods 
apparently  nesting,  flying  from  tree  to  tree  with 
perfect  ease,  exhibiting  some  concern  at  our  pres- 
ence. 

Both  varieties  of  tree-ducks  are  nocturnal  in 
their  habits,  and  fond  of  visiting  the  corn-fields, 
where  they  often  inflict  much  damage  by  alighting 
on  the  stalk  and  breaking  it.  The  note  is  a  shrill 
pe-che-che-ne,  and  hence  the  native  name.  They 
are  readily  tamed,  and  become  very  gentle.  We 
noticed  a  pair  in  one  of  the  yards  at  Tampico 
perfectly  at  home  with  the  barnyard  ducks.  When 
domesticated,  they  are  said  to  be  as  good  as  a 
watch-dog,  uttering  their  note  at  slight  provoca- 
tion. This  bird  is  known  along  the  lower  Rio 
Grande  as  the  long-legged  duck  and  the  fiddler 
duck;  in  Mexico  as  the  pe-che-che-ne  and  the 
pato  maizal,  or  corn-field  duck. 


FULVOUS   TREE-DUCK 

(Dendrocygna  fulva) 

Adult  male  and  female  —  Similar  in  plumage;  top  of  head,  rufous, 
darkest  on  nape ;  sides  of  head,  yellowish  brown ;  a  ring  of  black 
feathers  with  white  centres  on  middle  of  neck  ;  lower  neck,  dark 
yellowish  brown  ;  back,  black  tipped  with  cinnamon,  giving  it  a 
barred  appearance ;  wing-coverts,  chestnut ;  wing,  black ;  tail, 
black;  upper  and  under  tail-coverts,  white;  throat,  light  buff; 
upper  parts  of  breast,  yellowish  brown  ;  under  parts,  cinnamon  ; 
bill,  bluish  black ;  legs  and  feet,  slate ;  iris,  brown. 


256  The  Water-fowl  Family 

Measurements  —  Length,  20  inches ;  wing,  8.25  inches ;  culmen, 
1.75  inches;  tarsus,  2  inches. 

Young —  Similar  to  adult,  but  with  little  or  no  chestnut  color  on 
wing-coverts ;  under  parts,  paler ;  the  upper  tail-coverts  tipped 
with  brown. 

Downy  young  —  Upper  parts,  grayish  brown  ;  a  brown  band  from  the 
eyes  to  the  back  of  neck ;  another  extending  down  the  neck, 
posteriorly ;  a  white  band  across  the  back  to  the  head,  and  one 
across  the  wing;  under  parts,  white. 

Eggs  —  Ten  to  fifteen  in  number,  pure  white,  measure  2.20  inches 
by  1.50. 

Habitat —  In  the  United  States,  breeds  in  Louisiana,  Texas,  and  the 
Sacramento  Valley,  California ;  occurs  in  Nevada,  southern  and 
Lower  California  in  migrations,  and  winters  in  Louisiana  and 
Texas.  Is  found  also  in  Mexico  and  in  southern  Brazil,  Uruguay, 
and  Argentina,  in  South  America,  and  is  said  to  occur  in  South 
Africa  and  India.  Recorded  also  from  North  Carolina  and 
Missouri. 

Mr.  Hepburn  found  the  fulvous  tree-duck  breed- 
ing on  the  marshes  at  the  junction  of  the  Sac- 
ramento and  San  Joaquin  rivers.  A  specimen 
killed  near  San  Francisco  is  in  the  Museum  of 
the  Boston  Natural  History  Society.  There  is  a 
single  instance  of  its  capture  near  New  Orleans, 
January  22,  1870.  In  South  America  it  has  been 
noticed  in  the  easterly  region  of  La  Plata  and  on 
the  Rio  Uruguay.  In  October,  at  the  end  of  the 
rainy  season,  it  is  abundant  near  Mazatlan. 

The  fulvous  tree-duck  inhabits  a  region  near  the 
seacoast,  but  is  found  exclusively  on  fresh  water, 
through  the  winter  ranging  well  into  the  tropics. 
It  frequents  shallow,  grassy  ponds,  feeding  on 
seeds  and  various  weeds,  often  going  at  night  to 


Goose-shooting  257 

the  corn-fields.  The  bird  is  comparatively  easy 
of  approach,  and  sometimes  many  are  killed  at  a 
shot.  In  April  they  -migrate  north  a  short  dis- 
tance, and  breed  along  the  rivers  in  western 
Sonora,  passing  in  limited  numbers  into  the 
United  States.  The  nest  is  a  hole  in  a  tree,  and 
the  eggs  twelve  to  fifteen  in  number,  the  duck 
sometimes  raising  two  or  three  broods.  The  note 
of  this  bird  is  a  peculiar  whistle,  often  heard  at 
night,  which  is  its  favorite  time  for  feeding.  The 
flesh  is  white,  juicy,  and  excellent  for  the  table. 
Alighting  on  a  tree,  the  long  legs  give  them  an 
ungainly  look.  When  fledged,  the  birds  congre- 
gate in  considerable  size  on  neighboring  ponds, 
often  gathering  along  the  shore.  The  species  is 
known  by  various  names,  such  as  long-legged 
duck,  yellow-bellied  fiddler  duck,  and  rufous  duck. 


CHAPTER   VI 

THE   SWANS 
(Cygnina) 

THIS  group  contains  the  largest  of  the  water- 
fowl. There  are  about  eight  species  scattered 
over  the  world,  but  the  majority  belong  in  the 
northern  hemisphere.  Swans,  while  possessing 
a  bill  much  like  that  of  a  duck,  but  rather  longer 
proportionately,  differ  from  all  other  birds  of  the 
family  in  having  in  adult  life  a  space  between  the 
eyes  and  bill  bare  of  feathers.  The  neck  is  exceed- 
ingly long,  longer  than  the  body,  and  contains  more 
vertebrae  than  that  of  the  geese  and  ducks,  and  is 
therefore  extremely  flexible.  The  legs  are  rather 
short  and  set  far  back,  so  that  the  grace  that  is 
characteristic  of  the  swan  in  water  disappears 
when  it  tries  to  walk.  The  hind  toe  has  no  mem- 
branous lobe  or  a  very  small  one.  The  sexes  are 
alike  in  color,  and  the  plumage  of  the  adults  in  all 
the  species  frequenting  the  northern  hemisphere 
is  pure  white.  They  prefer  the  temperate  regions 
of  the  globe ;  but  the  majority  of  individuals,  still 
existing  wild  in  the  northern  hemisphere,  now 
breed  far  north.  They  are  seldom  found  in  large 

258 


Swan-shooting  259 

flocks  and  prefer  the  shallow  waters  of  the  lakes 
and  rivers,  but  occur  also  in  the  bays  of  the  coast. 
Although  very  rapid  swimmers  they  do  not  dive, 
feeding  chiefly  on  water  plants,  which  they  tear 
up  from  the  bottom,  reaching  down  their  long 
necks,  sometimes  tilting  the  body  like  a  goose; 
occasionally  they  eat  shellfish.  The  flesh  of  the 
adults  is  said  to  be  tough  and  not  palatable,  that 
of  the  young  being  far  better.  They  migrate  in 
V-shaped  flocks,  frequently  uttering  loud  trum- 
peting. Their  flight  is  strong,  but  an  instance  is 
on  record  that  a  flock  of  whistling  swans  (Olor 
columbianus)  while  migrating  through  western 
Pennsylvania  were  overtaken  by  a  storm  of  sleet, 
and  their  feathers  so  loaded  with  ice  that  they 
were  forced  to  the  ground  and  a  number  caught 
alive. 

In  breeding  habits  they  resemble  the  geese. 
Retiring  to  an  island  in  some  secluded  lake  or 
the  fastnesses  of  a  marsh,  they  build  a  large  nest 
of  sticks,  leaves,  and  grass.  The  male  guards  the 
female  while  she  is  sitting,  attacking  with  great 
courage  whatever  approaches  the  nest.  Their 
voice  is  clear  and  powerful,  but  the  sweetness  of 
"  the  dying  swan's  refrain  "  must  be  considered 
poetical  license. 

Swans  are  frequently  kept  in  captivity  and 
breed  readily  if  they  have  surroundings  to  their 
liking.  The  mute  swan  is  the  one  most  often 


260  The  Water- fowl  Family 

seen  in  parks  and  zoological  gardens,  and  is  not 
a  native  of  North  America.  It  is  an  exceedingly 
beautiful  bird  as  it  floats  on  the  water,  carrying  its 
long  neck  in  a  graceful  curve.  The  age  to  which 
swans  live  is  very  great.  The  mute  swan  has 
been  known  to  reach  seventy  years,  and  one  died 
near  Amsterdam,  in  1675,  which  bore  a  metal 
collar  with  the  date  "1573,"  indicating  a  life  of 
one  hundred  and  two  years. 

While  all  swans  of  the  northern  hemisphere 
are  white,  so  that  "  white  as  a  swan "  became 
proverbial,  in  Australia  —  the  land  of  all  things 
strange  —  was  found  a  black  swan.  This  is  a 
very  beautiful  species,  entirely  black,  with  a  red 
bill  crossed  by  a  white  bar.  The  neck  is  long, 
slender,  and  very  graceful,  and  the  inner  feathers 
of  the  wings  are  curled  and  raised.  It  has 
been  successfully  domesticated  in  the  northern 
hemisphere. 

Another  peculiar  swan  is  found  in  southern 
South  America,  sometimes  occurring  in  large 
flocks.  This  bird  is  pure  white  except  for  the 
head  and  neck,  which  are  deep  seal-brown.  The 
bill  is  plumbeous  with  a  rose-colored  knob  at 
the  base.  "  Boleadores," —  three  balls  on  the 
ends  of  connecting  ropes,  —  such  as  are  used  to 
catch  horses  and  cattle,  were  formerly  employed 
by  the  inhabitants  to  catch  these  swans,  although 
for  this  purpose  the  balls  were  made  of  wood.  The 


Swan-shooting  261 

hunter  would  float  as  close  as  possible  to  a  flock 
feeding  in  some  lake  and  throw  the  balls  as  the 
birds  arose.  If  he  succeeded  in  striking  one,  these 
balls,  twisting  the  ropes  about  the  bird,  rendered 
it  helpless. 

WHISTLING    SWAN 
(Olor  columbianus) 

Adult  male  —  Entire  plumage,  white ;  the  head,  sometimes  the  neck 
and  under  parts,  tinged  with  rusty;  tail,  generally  of  twenty 
feathers  ;  bill  and  feet,  black  ;  iris,  brown ;  a  small,  yellow  spot 
on  loral  skin  at  the  base  of  the  bill,  in  front  of  the  eye  ;  the  dis- 
tance from  the  anterior  corner  of  the  eye  to  the  posterior  edge 
of  the  nostril  is  more  than  the  distance  from  the  posterior  edge 
of  the  nostril  to  the  tip  of  the  bill.  This  is  an  infallible  distinc- 
tion from  the  trumpeter  swan  (Cory). 

Measurements  —  Length,  53  inches;  wing,  21.50  inches;  bill,  4 
inches;  tarsus,  4.25  inches;  middle  toe,  5.75  inches. 

Adult  female  —  Similar. 

Young —  Plumage,  of  a  grayish  cast,  with  a  brownish  tinge  on  head 
and  upper  neck ;  bill,  reddish  flesh  color,  dusky  at  the  tip ;  feet, 
pale  yellow.  The  adult  plumage  is  acquired  in  about  five  years, 
during  which  time  the  plumage  gradually  shades  into  white,  and 
the  bill  and  feet  grow  darker  until  the  fourth  year,  when  both 
become  black.  Weight,  sixteen  to  twenty-four  pounds. 

Eggs  —  Two  to  six  in  number ;  brownish  white ;  a  rough  surface  to 
the  shell ;  measures  4.10  by  2.70  inches. 

Habitat  —  Breeds  on  Nottingham  Island,  Hudson  Bay,  the  Arctic 
Coast  near  Fort  Anderson,  near  Kotzebue  Sound  (Sp.  ?),  the 
Yukon  Delta,  and  Cook  Inlet  (Sp.  ?),  Alaska,  and  is  said  to  be 
abundant  in  summer  in  the  interior  of  British  Columbia.  Win- 
ters from  Maryland  to  South  Carolina  on  the  Atlantic  Coast, 
rarely  north  to  Massachusetts  and  south  to  Florida,  on  the  coast 
of  Louisiana  and  Texas,  north  rarely  in  the  interior  to  western 
Pennsylvania,  Ohio  (?),  Indiana,  Illinois,  Michigan,  and  Ne- 
braska (Sp.  ?),  in  Utah  and  Nevada  (Sp.  ?),  Arizona,  and  on 
the  Pacific  Coast  from  British  Columbia,  rarely  south  to  Ventura 


262  The  Water-fowl  Family 

'  County,  California,  and  San  Raphael,  Lower  California  (Sp.  ?). 
Occurs  in  migration  from  the  Commander  and  Pribilof  islands 
to  Newfoundland,  and  has  been  taken  .in  Scotland  and  Bermuda. 

The  whistling-swan  reaches  the  breeding- 
grounds  in  late  April  or  early  May,  arriving  in 
flocks,  most  of  which  cross  the  interior;  some 
follow  the  line  of  Hudson  Bay,  others  the  Pacific 
Coast.  Soon  after  their  appearance  at  the  summer 
home,  the  flocks  break  up  into  pairs,  each  pair 
frequenting  the  nesting-place,  usually  a  small  island. 
Captain  Lyon  has  described  the  nest  as  being 
built  of  moss  peat,  and  as  being  of  considerable 
size,  the  length  at  the  base  being  nearly  six  feet 
by  four  in  width,  in  the  shape  of  a  mound,  with 
an  outside  height  of  two  feet,  the  cavity  being  a 
foot  and  a  half  in  diameter. 

The  young  are  hatched  about  July  i,  and  be- 
fore they  are  able  to  fly  many  fall  a  prey  to  the 
natives.  The  fall  migration  begins  in  early  Octo- 
ber. Families  congregate  in  flocks  and  when  a 
favorable  wind  offers,  start  on  the  journey  south. 
The  flight  is  mainly  overland,  in  a  straight,  un- 
erring line,  high  in  the  air,  and  in  fair  weather 
with  but  few  stops.  Those  wintering  along  the 
Atlantic  reach  the  coasts  of  North  and  South 
Carolina  in  early  November  and  remain  until  well 
on  into  March.  On  the  Columbia  River  the  birds 
arrive  in  late  October  and  leave  in  March  or  the 
first  week  of  April.  The  first  comers  are  in 


Swan-shooting  263 

small  flocks,  composed  of  a  few  old  birds  with 
their  cygnets ;  these  are  augmented  by  others, 
and  soon  large  numbers  congregate.  Their  desti- 
nation is  often  reached  at  night ;  discordant  cries 
announce  the  arrival  and  tell  the  satisfaction  of  a 
long,  tiresome  journey  ended.  Few  sights  are 
more  imposing  than  the  lines  of  white,  and  the 
swan  drifting  majestically  along  the  surface  of 
quiet  water  is  deservedly  the  emblem  of  beauty 
and  grace.  From  afar  the  appearance  is  of  a 
snowbank.  If  disturbed,  and  not  hard-pressed, 
they  swim  off  rather  than  take  to  wing.  The 
flight  is  started  with  considerable  effort ;  the  bird 
rising  heavily  against  the  wind  quickly  mounts  to 
an  altitude  far  out  of  range,  when  the  wings  seem 
almost  motionless  and  the  white  line  sails  through 
the  air  in  striking  distinction  to  the  flapping  flight 
of  geese.  The  note  resembles  slightly  the  noise 
made  by  a  tin  horn,  and  its  discordance  is  sup- 
posed to  increase  with  age.  When  birds  in  the 
air,  about  to  alight,  call  to  those  on  the  water,  there 
is  often  an  utter  din. 

The  swan  feeds  on  the  shallow  bars  and  flats, 
keeping  the  body  above  water  and  dipping  down 
with  its  long  neck.  Various  water-grasses,  vege- 
table matter,  and  small  shellfish  and  Crustacea 
comprise  the  diet.  While  age  and  resulting 
toughness  render  the  old  bird  scarcely  edible,  the 
cygnet  in  some  localities  is  highly  prized. 


264  The  Heater-fowl  Family 

In  Currituck,  Albemarle,  and  Pamlico  sounds, 
the  eastern  habitat,  the  swan  is  not  killed  in  large 
numbers.  When  an  occasional  bird  is  shot,  per- 
haps he  is  an  unfortunate  tail-ender,  who  came 
over  the  blind  a  little  too  close.  Sometimes  in 
heavy  weather  the  usual  course  and  habit  of  flight 
is  changed,  and  the  flocks  fly  overland  within 
range.  Rarely  a  single  bird  comes  to  geese  de- 
coys. Some  of  the  clubs  along  the  coast  have 
one  or  two  wild  swan,  that  are  tied  out  with  other 
stool  and  serve  to  attract  their  mates. 

Along  the  Pacific  Coast,  in  the  vicinity  of  the 
Columbia  River,  the  bird  is  killed  in  considerable 
numbers  when  driven  low  down  and  overland  by 
storm  and  wind.  In  winter  weather  a  boat  cov- 
ered with  ice,  if  skilfully  managed,  can  often  be 
paddled  within  close  range.  The  difficulty  with 
which  a  swan  rises  from  the  water  enables  it 
rarely  to  be  sailed  on.  Heavy  loads  behind 
heavy  shot  are  necessary  to  kill,  and  if  possible 
the  head  or  neck  should  be  aimed  at.  When 
wounded  the  swan  often  escapes,  for  it  is  a  pow- 
erful swimmer,  and,  if  opportunity  affords,  can 
dive  and  skulk.  If  approached  without  caution, 
it  can  deal  a  heavy  blow  with  the  wings.  This 
bird  bears  domestication  well,  and  lives  to  an  old 
age. 


Swan-shooting  265 


TRUMPETER    SWAN 
(Olor  buccinator} 

Adult  male  —  Plumage  entirely  white,  the  head,  sometimes  the  neck 
and  lower  part,  tinged  with  rusty ;  tail  usually  of  twenty-four 
feathers  ;  bill,  lores,  legs,  and  feet,  black  ;  iris,  brown. 

Measurements  —  Length,  63  to  68  inches  ;  wing,  24.25  inches  ;  tar- 
sus, 4.75  inches ;  oilmen,  4.50  inches  ;  weight,  twenty  to  thirty- 
four  pounds. 

Adult  female —  Similar. 

The  young — Plumage,  grayish;  bill,  black  with  the  middle  portion 
light  flesh  color  and  a  patch  of  light  purple  on  each  side ;  the 
edge  of  the  lower  mandible  and  tongue,  yellowish ;  feet,  yellow- 
ish brown ;  webs,  dusky. 

This  species  differs  from  the  preceding  in  size,  it  being  decid- 
edly the  larger  bird.  No  yellow  spot  on  the  lores.  The  dis- 
tance from  the  anterior  angle  of  the  eye  to  the  posterior  of  the 
nostril  is  equal  to  or  less  than  the  distance  from  the  posterior 
edge  of  the  nostril  to  the  edge  of  the  bill.  (Cory.) 

Eggs  —  Two  to  six  in  number,  dirty  white,  the  shell  rough, 
measure  4.50  by  2.70  inches. 

Habitat  —  Breeds  at  Fort  Yukon,  Alaska,  and  from  islands  of  Frank- 
lin Bay  and  the  Barren  Grounds,  south  to  Hudson  Bay  and 
Wyoming,  and  formerly  south  to  Indiana,  Minnesota,  Iowa,  Ne- 
braska, and  Idaho.  Winters  from  British  Columbia  (?)  and 
Washington,  south  to  Los  Angeles  County,  California,  in  Nevada 
(Sp.  ?),  Arizona,  and  on  the  Gulf  Coast  of  Texas,  Louisiana,  and 
northern  Mexico,  rarely  north  to  Illinois,  Indiana  (?),  and  Ohio. 
Has  been  recorded  very  rarely  from  Michigan,  Ontario,  New 
York,  and  Maryland,  in  migration,  most  passing  west  of  the 
Mississippi ;  and  in  Norton  Sound,  Alaska ;  is  becoming  each 
year  more  rare  in  the  United  States.  Recorded  from  England. 

This  bird  is  an  early  arrival  in  the  United 
States,  appearing  along  the  northern  border  by 
the  middle  of  September.  By  the  end  of  Octo- 
ber it  is  seen  in  some  numbers  along  the 


266  The  Water-fowl  Family 

upper  Mississippi  Valley  and  the  lower  waters  of 
the  Ohio.  Here  it  remains  until  freezing  weather, 
wintering  occasionally  in  Texas  and  along  the  Gulf, 
and  found  commonly  in  New  Mexico  and  northern 
Mexico.  The  favorite  haunts  are  small,  fresh- 
water lakes,  where  the  bird  is  seen  in  small  flocks 
or  in  pairs. 

They  breed  in  large  numbers  on  the  fresh-water 
ponds  and  lakes  in  the  vicinity  of  Hudson  Bay. 
The  nest  is  placed  on  the  islands  or  low  ground 
among  the  reeds  and  is  composed  of  grass.  The 
bird  hatches  in  July  and  takes  its  young  to  the 
neighboring  water.  During  the  moulting  season, 
in  August,  it  is  for  a  short  time  unable  to  fly. 

The  habits  of  the  trumpeter  swan  resemble 
those  of  its  relative,  but  its  note  is  different,  being 
much  more  sonorous.  It  is  a  strong,  high  flyer 
and  difficult  to  kill,  the  wounded  birds  swimming 
with  rapidity  and  often  eluding  capture.  The 
food  consists  of  water-grasses  and  vegetable  mat- 
ter, sometimes  small  shellfish,  the  bird  feeding  in 
shallow  water,  with  the  body  above  the  surface. 
The  flesh  of  the  young  bird  is  excellent. 

This  swan  is  the  largest  representative  of  our 
water-fowl,  and  undoubtedly  attains  great  age. 
There  are  instances  on  record  where  it  has  lived 
many  years  in  confinement.  If  taken  young,  it 
becomes  remarkably  tame,  and  has  been  domesti- 
cated successfully  in  various  places  throughout 
this  country. 


Swan-shooting  267 

WHOOPING   SWAN 
(Olor  cygnus) 

Adult  male  and  female  —  Entire  plumage,  white;  base  of  bill  sur- 
rounding the  nostrils  and  lores,  yellow,  the  remainder,  black; 
legs  and  feet,  black. 

Measurements  —  Length,  57  inches;  wing,  24  inches;  tarsus,  4 
inches  ;  culmen,  4.30  inches. 

Young — General  color,  dark  gray;  base  of  bill  and  lores,  greenish 
yellow;  remainder,  black,  with  an  orange  band  across  the 
nostrils. 

Eggs  —  Four  to  seven  in  number,  yellowish  white  in  color,  measure 
4  inches  by  2.50  inches. 

Habitat  —  Breeds  in  the  northern  parts  of  Europe  and  Asia,  includ- 
ing Iceland,  and  is  said  to  have  formerly  bred  in  Greenland. 
Winters  on  Bering  Island  (?),  the  Caspian  Sea,  and  in  Great 
Britain  and  Europe  as  far  south  as  Egypt.  Occurs  occasion- 
ally in  southern  Greenland. 

Formerly  this  species  bred  in  Greenland,  near 
Godthaab,  but  was  exterminated  by  the  Eskimos, 
when  moulting  and  helpless.  During  the  past 
thirty  years  single  individuals  have  occasionally 
reappeared  in  southern  Greenland,  probably  mere 
stragglers  from  Iceland,  where  the  bird  breeds. 

On  some  hillock  in  a  retired  marsh  of  Iceland 
or  northern  Eurasia  the  whooping  swan  heaps 
together  rushes  to  form  its  nest  Simple  as  is 
such  a  home,  it  must  be  dear  to  the  birds,  for  it  is 
said  that  a  pair  will  return  to  the  same  nest  for 
years.  Both  parents  guard  their  young  bravely, 
attacking  all  who  approach.  At  other  times  they 
are  wary,  and  as  the  V-shaped  flocks  pass  they 
trumpet  frequently. 


CHAPTER   VII 

RAIL-SHOOTING 

WHEN  the  wild  oats  along  the  tidal  rivers  of 
our  coast  begin  to  turn  yellow  with  the  first  touch 
of  fall,  the  time  for  rail  has  come,  and  the  high 
.tides  of  September  give  the  sportsman  his  first 
chance.  The  Connecticut  River,  where  it  broad- 
ens into  the  Sound,  is  one  of  the  favorite  haunts 
of  these  birds.  Here  Essex  is  the  usual  destina- 
tion. Some  three  miles  up  the  river  from  Say- 
brook,  the  little  town  of  Essex,  with  its  one  hotel 
and  old-fashioned  houses,  looks  now  pretty  much 
as  it  did  a  hundred  years  ago.  Rail  tides  gen- 
erally come  toward  the  middle  of  the  day,  and 
the  pusher  is  waiting  for  you  at  the  landing; 
you  stand  for  a  minute  looking  up  and  down 
the  broad  expanse  of  river.  Everywhere  along 
the  shore  are  wavy  patches  of  high  grass  reaching 
far  out  into  the  water.  These  are  the  wild  oats, 
and  here  live  the  rail.  A  strong  tide  is  running 
in,  and  you  step  into  the  flat-bottomed  skiff,  which 
is  rigged  with  a  high  stool  firmly  tied  to  the  front 
seat  The  only  task  now  is  to  sit  still  on  this  stool 
and  be  shoved.  A  short  row  up  the  river  and 

268 


Rail-sbooting  269 

you  are  in  the  midst  of  thick  wild  oats,  so  high  it 
is  difficult  in  many  places  to  see  over  the  tops, 
even  from  your  exalted  position.  A  flutter  just 
ahead,  and  a  rail  rises,  shot  almost  before  it 
cleared  the  grass ;  a  few  feathers  alone  are  left  to 
tell  the  fate  of  the  first  bird  of  the  season.  The 
next  is  given  a  chance  to  get  in  range,  and  the 
score  is  two ;  three  or  four  more  straight  exalt  a 
man's  idea  of  his  shooting  ability,  —  without  rea- 
son, though,  for  no  easier  mark  ever  flew  in  front  of 
a  gun.  Now  a  rail  runs  among  some  broken  grass 
ahead  of  the  boat,  and  a  whack  from  the  pusher's 
pole  starts  him  ;  at  the  shot  half  a  dozen  teal  jump 
within  range,  and  the  last  one  is  feathered  but  not 
stopped.  Presently  several  rail  start  in  quick  suc- 
cession ;  you  fire,  and  load,  and  fire  again,  —  not 
a  miss  yet,  but  all  idea  of  definite  direction  is  lost 
and  the  last  bird  is  the  only  one  marked.  Here 
a  clever  pusher  shows  his  skill,  and  after  you  have 
given  up  all  thought  of  retrieving  he  picks  them 
up  in  order.  Under  these  circumstances  painted 
blocks  can  be  used  and  tossed  out  to  mark  the 
dead  birds  before  the  position  of  the  boat  is 
changed.  The  time  of  high  tide  is  short,  but 
sufficient ;  every  few  seconds  a  bird  rises,  its  slow 
flight  affording  a  sure  mark ;  generally  in  front 
or  to  the  side,  occasionally  behind,  when  you  are 
startled  by  the  pusher's  yell  "  Hi,  rail ! "  in  time  to 
try  a  long  shot.  Sometimes  a  larger  bird,  of  the 


270  The  Water-fowl  Family 

same  general  appearance  and  similar  flight,  starts 
up.  This  is  a  clapper  rail,  known  by  many  of 
our  gunners  as  marsh  hen.  About  Essex  they  are 
rare.  Sometimes,  too,  a  mud  hen  flops  out  over 
the  tops.  In  some  instances  mud  hens  are  quite 
common  on  the  rail  grounds.  The  Florida  galli- 
nule  is  also  a  straggler  here.  Rail  keep  fluttering 
from  the  grass,  less  often  now,  though,  than  an 
hour  ago,  but  you  have  some  time  since  reached, 
the  limit,  —  as  well,  for  a  falling  tide  makes  the 
pushing  hard  and  the  birds  refuse  to  rise.  Most 
of  the  birds  are  soras ;  occasionally  the  longer  bill 
and  darker  coloring  mark  a  Virginian  rail.  An 
occasional  chattering  note  tells  of  the  presence  of 
a  rail,  secure  in  the  high  grass,  until  the  next  high 
tide.  A  lone  bittern  wings  his  way  to  some  safer 
spot,  and  this  is  our  last  glimpse  of  the  marsh. 

THE  RAIL  FAMILY 
(RaUida) 

This  family  contains  about  one  hundred  and 
eighty  species  of  small  or  medium-sized  birds. 
They  are  scattered  over  most  of  the  world,  but 
are  more  common  in  the  tropics ;  and  three  sub- 
families,—  the  rails  (Rallinae),  Gallinules  (Gallinu- 
linae),  and  coots  (Fulicinae),  —  containing  fifteen  or 
sixteen  species,  are  found  in  North  America.  All 
have  long  and  strong  legs,  with  very  powerful 
thighs ;  the  toes  are  usually  very  long  and  not 


Rail-shooting  271 

webbed,  and  the  bodies  narrow.  This  combina- 
tion of  characters  enables  them  to  run  rapidly  and 
with  ease  over  the  soft  mud  of  the  marshes  they 
frequent,  or  on  the  broad  leaves  of  water-plants, 
and  also  to  pass  without  difficulty  among  the 
thickly  growing  reeds  and  grasses.  Their  wings 
are  short,  rounded,  and  somewhat  hollow,  so  that 
their  flight  is  usually  feeble  and  but  for  a  short 
distance,  with  the  long  legs  hanging.  Few  of  them 
fly  willingly,  preferring  to  trust  to  their  powerful 
legs  and  their  great  skill  in  hiding  among  the 
thick  growth  around  them,  than  to  their  feeble 
wings.  Some  of  them  carry  this  disinclination  so 
far  as  to  allow  themselves  to  be  caught  by  a  dog 
rather  than  leave  the  ground.  The  flight  of  the 
clapper  rail  is  so  feeble  that  I  have  frequently 
seen  a  Chesapeake  Bay  dog,  having  finally  suc- 
ceeded in  driving  one  from  cover,  follow  it  as  it 
flew  and  catch  it  soon  after  it  struck  the  ground, 
although  it  might  have  flown  over  one  hundred 
yards.  Yet  some  species  migrate  long  distances, 
accomplishing  these  journeys  at  night. 

There  are  seldom  striking  contrasts  in  the 
colors  of  the  plumage  of  the  rails,  and  the  feathers 
themselves  are  rather  loose,  and  the  tail  short  and 
soft.  The  males  and  females  are  usually  alike. 
Their  food,  gathered  amongst  the  rushes,  on  the 
mud  or  in  the  water,  may  be  either  seeds,  grasses, 
and  the  buds  and  stems  of  water-plants,  or  small 


272  The  Water-Jowl  Family 

fish,  crustaceans,  and  shellfish.  The  flesh  of  cer- 
tain species  is  considered  a  delicacy.  The  size 
and  shape  of  the  bill  differ  much  in  the  different 
subfamilies,  but  it  is  never  soft  at  the  tip.  The 
hind  toe  is  much  longer  than  in  the  ducks  and 
shore-birds.  All  the  species  are  retiring  in  their 
habits,  keeping  in  dense  vegetation,  and  though 
their  harsh  notes  may  show  that  there  are  many 
around,  seeing  a  single  bird  will  prove  often  im- 
possible. Evenings  and  moonlight  nights  are 
their  favorite  feeding  hours,  and  then  their  loud 
voices  can  be  often  heard  in  the  marshes  they 
frequent,  and  occasionally  a  bird  seen  running  on 
the  mud  at  the  edge  of  a  creek.  Their  nests  are 
simple,  a  hollowed  heap  of  short  rushes,  and  are 
built  on  the  ground  or  fastened  among  the  reeds 
growing  in  shallow  water.  The  eggs  are  usually 
buffy,  spotted  with  brownish,  and  from  six  to 
fifteen  in  number.  The  young  leave  the  nest  as 
soon  as  hatched. 

The  coots  may  be  recognized  by  a  bare  and 
horny  shield-like  space,  extending  from  the  bill 
toward  the  crown,  and  by  the  membranous  lobes 
on  their  toes;  the  gallinules,  by  a  somewhat  simi- 
lar frontal  plate  with  no  lobes  on  the  toes ;  and 
the  true  rails,  by  having  neither  frontal  plate  nor 
lobed  toes.  Some  of  the  gallinules  are  of  a  rich 
purple  color  with  brightly  colored  bills. 

On   islands   in   the  southern  hemisphere  sev- 


Rail-shooting  273 

eral  species  of  this  family  have  been  discovered 
that  have  lost  the  power  of  flight.  These  birds 
inhabited,  as  a  rule,  small  and  isolated  islands,  on 
which  they  had  few  natural  enemies  and  therefore 
little  need  for  wings ;  but  civilized  man  interfered 
with  the  prevailing  order  when  he  intruded  on 
their  domains,  and  now  some  of  these  birds  have 
been  entirely  exterminated  and  others  are  on  the 
verge.  They  were  seldom  shy  or  wary  birds  and 
sometimes  possessed  an  inordinate  curiosity.  A 
description  of  the  manner  in  which  a  species  that 
lived  in  Mauritius  in  1675  was  caught,  is  quoted 
by  Dr.  Stejneger  in  the  "  Standard  Natural  His- 
tory ":  "  A  rod  is  taken  in  the  right  hand  and  the 
left  is  wrapped  in  a  piece  of  red  stuff,  which  is 
then  shown  to  the  birds,  commonly  assembled  in 
numerous  flocks.  Whether  the  red  color  terrifies 
these  stupid  birds,  or  whether  it  attracts  them, 
they  approach  the  fowler  almost  without  fear ;  and 
he,  when  they  are  at  a  convenient  distance,  strikes 
and  seizes  one.  The  cries  which  the  captive  ut- 
ters attract  its  companions,  who  seek  to  deliver  it, 
and  thus  all  become  the  prey  of  the  fowler."  Let 
us  be  thankful  that  the  presence  of  enemies  has 
kept  our  rails  from  a  similar  mental  and  physical 
condition. 


274  The  Water-fowl  Family 


KING    RAIL 

(Rallus  elegans) 

Adult  male  and  female  —  Upper  parts,  olive-drab  distinctly  striped 
with  black ;  top  of  head,  dark  brown  with  a  supra-loral  streak 
of  brownish  white;  lores,  brownish  gray;  throat,  white;  re- 
mainder of  head  and  neck,  including  jugulum  and  breast,  light 
cinnamon ;  sides,  dark  brown  barred  with  white ;  lower  abdo- 
men, light  buff,  sometimes  white ;  wing-coverts,  rusty  brown, 
more  or  less  barred  with  reddish  white;  lower  mandible  and 
edges  of  the  upper,  yellowish ;  ridge  of  upper  and  tips  of  both, 
brown ;  iris,  red  ;  feet,  olive-brown. 

Downy  young —  Uniform  black  ;  bill,  dusky  ;  the  tip  and  band  near 
face,  yellowish  ;  feet,  brownish. 

Measurements  —  Length,  17  inches;  wing,  6.50  inches;  culmen, 
2.25  inches  ;  tarsus,  2.30  inches  ;  middle  toe,  2  inches.  Individ- 
ual measurements  vary  considerably. 

Eggs  —  Nine  to  twelve  in  number,  creamy  white  in  color,  marked 
with  small  spots  and  blotches  of  purplish  slate,  measure  1.70 
by  1.25  inches. 

Habitat  —  Fresh-water  marshes  of  the  eastern  United  States,  west 
to  Texas  and  Kansas ;  breeding  from  its  southern  limit  north 
regularly  to  New  Jersey,  New  York,  Ohio,  Indiana,  Ontario, 
Michigan,  Nebraska,  and  probably  Minnesota,  and  occurring 
irregularly  to  Maine,  New  Brunswick,  South  Dakota,  and  possi- 
bly Manitoba  and  Utah.  Winters  chiefly  in  the  southern  half  of 
its  range,  north  occasionally  to  Rhode  Island,  Massachusetts, 
and  southern  Illinois.  Accidental  in  Cuba. 

Fresh-water  marshes  of  the  Southern  and  Mid- 
dle states  are  the  common  resorts  of  the  king  rail, 
and  thence  it  straggles  to  the  northern  border  of 
the  United  States  and  has  been  taken  in  Canada. 
In  South  Carolina,  Georgia,  Florida,  and  Texas, 
this  bird  is  a  resident  throughout  the  year,  but  its 
secretive  habits,  and  the  protective  nature  of  the 


Rail-footing  275 

haunts,  make  it  difficult  to  secure.  The  king  rail 
breeds  in  the  marshes  it  frequents,  building  a  nest 
of  withered  reeds  and  grasses  to  a  height  of  six 
inches  or  more  from  the  ground.  Eight  to  ten 
eggs  are  laid,  and  in  the  South  incubation  is  begun 
early  in  April.  The  birds  are  said  to  use  the 
same  nests  year  after  year.  The  young  when  first 
hatched  are  covered  with  black  down,  and  closely 
resemble  little  rats.  Where  there  are  extensive 
marshes  near  sluggish  streams,  occasionally  a 
glimpse  is  caught  of  this  bird,  but  the  slightest 
motion  causes  it  to  dart  out  of  sight.  The  food 
consists  of  various  seeds,  small  water  animals, 
tadpoles,  crayfish,  etc.,  and  the  flesh  is  not  the 
equal  of  the  smaller  rail.  Some  confusion  has 
always  existed  between  this  species  and  the  clap- 
per rail,  not  only  among  sportsmen  but  also  orni- 
thologists. The  king  rail  is  seldom  taken  on  salt- 
water marshes,  and  the  birds  called  king  rails  by 
gunners  in  these  localities  are  in  the  great  majority 
of  instances  the  clapper  rail. 

BELDING'S   RAIL 

(Rallus  beldingi) 

Similar  to  R.  elegans,  but  darker  and  richer  in  its  plumage;  the 
white  bars  on  the  flanks  are  much  narrower,  and  the  sides  are 
marked  with  distinct  black  bars ;  basal  two-thirds  of  the  man- 
dible, deep  orange;  rest  of  bill,  dark  brown;  feet,  dark  brown. 

Measurements  —  Length,  15  inches;  wing,  5.75  inches;  tail,  2.50 
inches  ;  culmen,  2  inches  ;  tarsus,  1 .85  inches. 

Habitat  —  The  coast  and  islands  of  southern  Lower  California. 


276  The  Water-fowl  Family 

Since  this  bird  was  first  described  by  Mr.  Ridge- 
way  in  1882,  additional  specimens  agreeing  closely 
with  the  original  type  have  been  secured,  thus 
establishing  the  species.  It  resembles  closely,  in 
the  coloring  of  its  plumage,  the  Virginia  rail,  but 
is  considerably  larger,  and  it  is  difficult  to  tell  to 
which  variety  the  Belding's  rail  is  most  closely 
related. 

CALIFORNIA    CLAPPER    RAIL 

(Rallus  obsoletus) 

Adult  male  and  female  —  Upper  parts,  olivaceous,  marked  with  dis- 
tinct dusky  stripes;  breast  and  under  parts,  cinnamon  color; 
general  plumage  closely  similar  to  R.  elegans.  The  coloring 
and  marking  of  the  flanks  resemble  R.  crepitans. 

Downy  young — Similar  to  R.  elegans. 

Measurements — Length,  17  inches;  wing,  6.50  inches;  culmen, 
2.50  inches;  tarsus,  2.25  inches. 

Eggs  —  Six  to  twelve  in  number,  light  buff,  spotted  with  reddish 
brown  and  lavender,  measure  1.70  by  1.25  inches. 

Habitat  —  The  salt  marshes  of  the  Pacific  coast  from  San  Quentin 
Bay,  Lower  California,  north  to  San  Francisco,  and  possibly  to 
Washington. 

Little  is  known  about  any  distinctive  habits  of 
this  species.  It  frequents  the  salt  marshes  and 
marshy  islands  of  California,  and  resembles  in 
manners  the  common  clapper  rail. 

Mr.  Joseph  Grinnell,  in  his  "  Check-list  of  Cali- 
fornia Birds,"  confines  this  species  to  the  marshes 
of  San  Francisco  Bay,  north,  possibly,  to  Hum- 
boldt  Bay,  and  recognizes  Rallus  levipes  as  the 
form  inhabiting  the  salt  marshes  of  southern 


Rail-shooting  277 

California  from  Santa  Barbara  to  Newport  Bay. 
Rallus  levipes  is  described  by  Mr.  Outram  Bangs 
(Proc.  New  Eng.  Zool.  Club,  I,  43,  1899)  as 
smaller  than  either  R.  obsoletus  or  R.  beldingi, 
with  a  more  slender  bill,  and  a  smaller  tarsus  and 
foot.  It  is  darker  above  than  R.  obsoletus,  the 
breast  and  sides  a  deep  cinnamon-rufous,  the 
ground-color  of  the  flanks  darker,  and  the  super- 
ciliary stripe  white,  instead  of  rusty.  From  R. 
beldingi  it  differs  in  having  the  back  feathers 
more  streaked,  the  breast  less  of  a  salmon-color, 
the  flanks  browner,  with  the  white  broader,  and 
the  superciliary  stripe  white,  instead  of  rusty. 

CLAPPER    RAIL 
(Rallus  crepitans) 

Adult  male  and  female  —  Upper  parts,  olive,  sometimes  uniform, 
rarely  striped  with  dusky;  the  feathers  of  back  and  scapulars 
margined  with  gray ;  top  of  head,  dusky,  with  a  brownish  white 
supra-loral  stripe ;  side  of  head,  gray ;  chin  and  throat,  white ; 
rest  of  neck  and  breast,  pale  cinnamon-buff;  flanks,  olive-gray, 
barred  with  white ;  wing-coverts,  brown ;  lower  mandible  and 
edges  of  upper,  yellowish  brown ;  upper  portion,  deep  brown ; 
iris,  yellow  ;  feet,  grayish. 

Downy  young —  Similar  to  R.  elegans. 

Measurements  —  Length,  15  inches;  wing,  5.50  inches;  culmen,  2.25 
inches  ;  tarsus,  2  inches. 

Eggs  —  Seven  to  fifteen,  deep  cream  color  with  numerous  mark- 
ings of  dark  purplish  brown,  measure  1.65  by  1.18  inches. 

Habitat  —  Salt  marshes  of  the  Atlantic  and  Gulf  coasts  of  the 
United  States,  breeding  from  Louisiana  north  to  Connecticut 
and  probably  Massachusetts.  Occurs  irregularly  in  Maine,  and 
has  been  reported  from  Springfield,  Massachusetts,  Vermont, 


278  The  Water-fowl  Family 

western  New  York  (?),  Pennsylvania  and  Washington,  D.C. 
Winters  from  New  Jersey  regularly,  Massachusetts  rarely,  south 
to  the  Bahamas. 

Four  subspecies  of  clapper  rails  are  recognized  by  the 
American  Ornithologists'  Union.  All  inhabit  salt  marshes 
along  the  coast. 

No.  i.  Clapper  Rail  (Rallus  crepitans).  Described  above. 
Inhabits  the  Atlantic  Coast  from  North  Carolina  to  Connecti- 
cut, and  rarely  Maine ;  resident  from  New  Jersey  south,  and  is 
said  to  breed  also  on  the  coast  of  Louisiana  and  western  Florida. 

No.  2.  Wayne's  Clapper  Rail  (Rallus  crepitans  waynei). 
Similar  to  last,  but  with  the  general  coloring  darker,  the  con- 
trast between  the  dark  centres  and  light  edgings  on  the  feathers 
of  the  upper  parts,  more  pronounced  —  the  centres  of  dorsal 
feathers  rich  seal-brown  and  their  edges  light  ashy,  the  under 
parts  with  more  ashy,  and  the  under  tail-coverts  with  fewer 
markings.  Inhabits  the  Atlantic  Coast  from  North  Carolina  to 
Florida. 

No.  3.  Florida  Clapper  Rail  (Rallus  crepitans  scottii}.  Simi- 
lar to  last  but  still  darker,  the  upper  parts  sooty  brown  or 
black,  edged  with  olive-gray.  Under  parts  dark  ashy  gray 
mixed  more  or  less  with  cinnamon.  Inhabits  the  Gulf  Coast  of 
Florida. 

No.  4.  Louisiana  Clapper  Rail  (Rallus  crepitans  sat^^ratus'). 
Similar  to  last  but  browner.  Upper  parts  chiefly  rich  brown 
edged  with  olive.  Under  parts  gray  with  cinnamon  breast. 
Inhabits  the  coast  of  Louisiana. 

The  salt-water  marshes  of  the  more  southern 
portions  of  the  United  States  and  the  Gulf  of 
Mexico  are  the  homes  of  the  clapper  rail.  It  is 
rare  north  of  Long  Island.  The  bays  and  tidal 
rivers  of  Virginia  and  North  and  South  Carolina 
are  their  resorts,  and  here  the  loud  cackling  note, 
morning  and  evening,  in  certain  seasons,  is  one 
of  the  sounds  of  the  marsh.  Early  in  April  the 


Rail-sbooting  279 

birds  are  in  evidence  in  their  Virginia  haunts,  and 
a  little  while  later  in  New  Jersey  and  Delaware. 
When  shore-bird  shooting  on  Broadwater  Bay, 
Virginia,  there  were  few  places  on  the  marshes 
where  the  clattering  cry  of  the  clapper  rail  did 
not  protest  against  intrusion.  The  meadow-hens 
(for  this  is  their  common  name)  would  often  come 
close  to  the  blind,  if  long  grass  afforded  protec- 
tion, keeping  up  their  din,  a  single  rail  making 
as  much  racket  as  a  guinea-hen.  Now  it  seemed 
close  at  hand ;  if  something  was  thrown  into  the 
cover,  for  a  second  there  was  silence,  then  re- 
doubled noise,  and  yet  not  a  bird  could  be  flushed. 
When  high  water  covered  their  retreats,  I  started 
a  few  from  the  flooded  marshes.  They  rose  then 
with  hesitation,  the  flight  being  straight  away 
and  slow,  the  birds  dropping  down  at  the  first  op- 
portunity. In  places,  where  from  their  noise  on 
previous  occasions  I  would  have  sworn  to  a  hun- 
dred, only  a  few  were  in  evidence.  I  noticed 
them  not  infrequently  swimming  through  the  thin 
grass,  with  hardly  more  than  head  and  neck  show- 
ing, much  like  the  manner  of  a  grebe.  Some- 
times they  would  dive  and  swim  a  short  distance 
under  water.  Exposed  under  these  circumstances 
the  note  was  never  uttered.  Their  nesting-places 
in  the  marshes  were  often  covered  by  the  tide.  It 
was  a  matter  of  great  interest  to  me  to  ascertain 
whether  the  eggs  were  destroyed,  and  I  am  con- 


280  The  Water-fowl  Family 

vinced  the  ordinary  high  water,  unless  associated 
with  the  heaviest  storm,  does  no  injury,  although 
in  some  instances  devoted  birds  have  been  found 
drowned  in  their  nests.  The  eggs,  unfortunately, 
in  locations  where  they  abound,  are  greedily 
sought  for  by  the  natives  and  held  in  highest 
esteem,  but  now  like  all  good  things  have  become 
scarce.  Wilson  states  the  nests  were  so  abun- 
dant he  has  known  twelve  hundred  eggs  to  be 
gathered  by  one  man  in  a  day,  —  an  instance  of 
past  destruction  that  now  seems  incredible.  The 
nest  is  simple  but  carefully  constructed,  being 
woven  over  with  twisted,  plaited  grass,  likely  a 
provision  against  high  water ;  a  little  path  gener- 
ally leads  to  it,  and  this  the  egg-hunter  looks  for. 
The  eggs  are  eight  to  ten  in  number,  and  often  a 
second  set  is  hatched.  In  the  late  summer  clap- 
per rail  are  hunted  from  the  marshes  of  the 
South  from  skiffs,  poled  through  the  flooded  grass, 
and  often  large  numbers  are  killed.  Their  flesh 
is  not  as  excellent  as  that  of  the  sora  rail,  as 
their  diet  consists  more  of  various  small  shellfish 
and  animal  matter,  than  of  seeds  and  vegetable 
material. 

Where  the  grass  is  not  too  thick  a  quick  dog 
will  often  catch  them.  In  one  instance  I  knew  a 
dog  to  flush  one  repeatedly,  finally  driving  the 
bewildered  bird  to  the  open,  where  it  flew  on  to 
the  beach  so  hard  as  to  turn  completely  over. 


Rail-shooting  281 

CARIBBEAN    CLAPPER    RAIL 
(Rallus  longirostris  cariboeus) 

Adult  male  and  female  —  Similar  to  R.  crepitans  in  coloring,  but 

bill  very  long,  slender,  and  much  decurved. 
Measurements  —  Wing,  5.75  inches;  bill,  2.40  inches;  tarsus,  1.85 

inches. 
Eggs  —  Five  to  fifteen  in  number,  white  to  brownish  buff,  spotted 

with  rusty  brown  and  purplish  gray. 
Habitat  —  West  Indies  and  the  Gulf  Coast  of  Mexico,  north  to  Texas. 

This  bird  resembles  the  clapper  rail  in  habits, 
and  is  only  found  in  the  United  States  on  the 
coast  of  Texas,  where  it  occurs  north  to  Corpus 
Christi  and  Galveston. 

They  are  said  to  be  very  abundant  in  the 
swamps  on  the  coast  of  Jamaica,  keeping 
carefully  out  of  sight,  their  presence  usually 
disclosed  only  by  the  harsh  crek  which  they 
frequently  utter.  Late  in  the  evening  and  at 
dawn  they  are  very  noisy,  and  then  come  to  the 
small  openings  in  the  marshes  to  feed.  They 
breed  on  the  ground  among  the  roots  of  the  man- 
groves, forming  a  large  nest  of  roots  and  leaves, 
hundreds  often  nesting  in  a  single  swamp.  The 
eggs  are  from  five  to  eleven  in  number.  From 
its  habits  this  bird  is  known  as  the  mangrove-hen. 

VIRGINIA    RAIL 
(Rallus  virginianus) 

Adult  male  and  female — Similar  to  R.  elegans  but  more  deeply 
colored.  Above,  olive,  deeply  striped  with  black  ;  wing-coverts, 
rufous ;  remainder  of  upper  parts,  dusky ;  top  of  head  and  back 


282  The  Heater-fowl  Family 

of  neck,  dusky,  slightly  streaked  with  olive ;  a  brownish  white 
supraloral  stripe ;  side  of  head,  plumbeous ;  fore  neck,  breast, 
sides,  and  abdomen,  cinnamon  ;  flanks  dusky,  barred  with  white  ; 
bill,  orange-red,  marked  with  brown  in  front  of  the  nostril  and 
on  base  of  mandible. 

Young — Head  above  and  laterally,  back  anteriorly,  rump,  breast, 
and  sides,  dull  black  ;  wing-coverts  and  wings,  similar  to  adult ; 
throat  white,  finely  spotted  with  black ;  lower  breast  and  abdo- 
men with  a  few  feathers  on  sides  tinged  with  white ;  anal 
region,  reddish. 

Downy  young —  Glossy  black  ;  bill,  orange-red,  slightly  marked  with 
blackish. 

Measurements  —  Length,  7.50  inches  ;  wing,  4  inches  ;  culmen, 
1.50  inches;  tarsus,  1.30  inches. 

Eggs  —  Six  to  twelve  in  number,  creamy  white,  marked  with  small 
blotches  and  spots  of  brownish  red,  measure  1.28  by  .95  inches. 

Habitat  —  Breeds  from  New  Jersey,  Pennsylvania,  probably  Virginia 
and  North  Carolina,  Ohio,  Indiana,  Illinois,  Iowa,  Kansas,  Colo- 
rado, Utah,  California,  and  possibly  Nevada  and  Lower  Cali- 
fornia north  to  New  Brunswick,  Quebec,  Ontario,  Manitoba, 
Saskatchewan,  and  British  Columbia,  and  recorded  from  Nova 
Scotia,  Newfoundland,  Hamilton  Inlet,  Labrador,  and  York 
Factory,  Hudson  Bay.  Winters  from  Massachusetts  rarely, 
South  Carolina  regularly,  the  southern  Mississippi  states,  Colo- 
rado, Utah,  Washington,  and  British  Columbia,  south  to  Florida, 
Guatemala,  and  Lower  California.  Reported  also  from  Cuba, 
Bermuda,  and  five  hundred  miles  west  of  Ireland. 


The  Virginia  rail  is  almost  a  miniature  of  the 
king  rail  and  resembles  this  bird  in  habits.  It  is 
most  abundant  on  the  fresh-water  marshes  of  the 
Western  states,  especially  Michigan,  Wisconsin, 
and  Illinois,  occurring  in  large  numbers  in  west- 
ern Canada.  In  the  favorite  resorts  of  the  sora, 
this  species  only  occurs  sparingly.  It  seems  to 
prefer  the  marshes  less  affected  by  tides  where  it 


Rail-shooting  283 

can  depend  entirely  on  its  legs  to  effect  escape, 
and  a  quick  dog  has  difficulty  in  forcing  the  bird 
to  flight.  The  Virginia  rail  flies  with  feet  hang- 
ing down  and  quickly  takes  to  cover,  where  it 
darts  off,  running  with  tail  erect.  The  food  con- 
sists of  various  water  insects  and  animalculae,  and 
the  flesh  is  not  as  highly  prized  as  that  of  the 
Carolina.  The  note  is  described  as  a  keek-keek, 
and  is  almost  a  squeak,  this  uttered  particularly  at 
times  when  the  bird  is  distressed,  when  the  nest  is 
approached.  It  is  found  in  the  more  northern 
haunts  late  in  April,  and  at  this  time  the  birds 
sometimes  straggle  into  the  markets.  In  May 
they  breed  on  the  fresh-water  marshes  of  the 
interior,  and  to  a  less  extent  on  the  coast,  con- 
structing a  nest  of  grass,  often  placing  it  at  the 
bottom  of  a  tuft,  roughly  arching  the  top.  The 
eggs  are  eight  to  ten  in  number  and  large  for 
the  size  of  the  bird.  The  young  are  covered  with 
black  down  with  a  white  spot  on  the  bill,  and 
utter  a  faint  peep  if  disturbed.  In  New  England 
I  have  found  this  rail  most  common  early  in 
August,  and  frequently  flushed  them  from  the 
short  grass  of  the  meadows,  while  looking  for 
yellow  legs.  Undoubtedly  their  habits  have 
much  to  do  with  the  apparent  scarcity  of  the 
species.  From  its  disposition  to  keep  to  the 
fresh-water  marshes,  this  rail  often  goes  by 
the  name  of  fresh-water  marsh-hen.  Early  frosts 


284  The  Water-fowl  Family 

mark  the  limit  of  their  stay  in  the  north,  though 
a  few  remain  until  winter.  The  distribution  of 
this  variety  is  extensive,  from  the  Atlantic  to  the 
Pacific,  and  from  Florida  to  southern  Canada. 

SPOTTED   CRAKE 
(Porzana  porzand) 

Adult  male  and  female  —  Upper  parts  olive-brown,  striped  with 

black;   broad  line  above  eye,  malar  region,  chin,  and  throat, 

uniform  gray ;  ear-coverts,  neck,  and  chest,  light  hair  brown, 

spotted  with  white. 
Young —  Similar,  with  the  stripe  above  the  eye  spotted  with  white  ; 

malar  regions,  chin  and  throat,  white,  spotted  with  brown ;  the 

breast  and  belly  washed  with  pale  buff. 
Measurements  —  Length,  8.50  inches;  wing,  4.33  inches;  bill,  .70 

inch;  tarsus,  1.25  inches. 
Eggs  —  Eight  to  twelve,  dull  buff,  spotted  with  brown  and  purplish 

gray,  measure  1.35  by  .95  inch. 
Habitat  —  Northern  parts  of  the  Old  World ;  occasional  in  Greenland. 

This  species,  common  in  various  parts  of 
Europe,  has  been  taken  accidentally  in  Green- 
land, and  hence  is  included  in  the  American 
Check-list.  It  inhabits  the  dense  vegetation  of 
marshes  and  the  banks  of  streams  and  ponds, 
placing  its  nest,  loosely  made  from  water-plants, 
close  to  the  water.  Other  names  for  this  bird  are 
spotted  rail,  spotted  water-hen,  spotted  gallinule, 
and  water  rail. 

CAROLINA    RAIL 
(Porzana  Carolina) 

Adult  male  and  female  —  Upper  parts  olive-brown  spotted  with 
black,  some  of  the  feathers  edged  with  white;  top  of  head 
with  a.  broad  kiagk  stripe ;  heacj  anteriorly  with  ghin 


Rail-shooting  285 

and  throat,  black;  sides  of  head  and  neck,  jugulum,  and  breast, 
plumbeous  ;  abdomen,  white ;  flanks  barred  with  white  and  slate. 

Young — Similar,  but  lores  brownish  ;  chin  and  throat,  whitish  ;  rest 
of  neck  with  jugulum  and  breast,  light  brown;  bill,  greenish 
yellow,  the  color  deeper  in  the  adult;  iris,  brown;  legs  and 
feet,  greenish. 

Downy  young — Glossy  black,  with  tuft  of  stiff,  orange  feathers  on 
chin ;  bill,  whitish,  maroon  at  base  of  marilla ;  feet,  brown. 

Measurements  —  Length,  8.50  inches  ;  wing,  4.25  inches ;  tarsus, 
1.30  inches. 

Eggs  —  Eight  to  twenty,  light  drab  marked  with  small  round  dark 
spots,  measure  1.38  by  .88  inches. 

Habitat  —  Breeds  from  New  Jersey,  Pennsylvania,  probably  Virginia, 
Illinois,  Kansas,  Colorado,  Utah,  and  California,  and  possibly 
Louisiana,  Texas,  and  Arizona,  north  to  the  Gulf  of  St.  Lawrence, 
Hudson  Bay,  the  Mackenzie  River,  and  northern  British  Colum- 
bia, and  recorded  from  Nova  Scotia,  Newfoundland,  and  Green- 
land. Winters  from  South  Carolina  regularly,  New  York  rarely, 
Illinois,  Utah  (?),  and  California,  south  to  the  West  Indies, 
Central  America,  and  northern  South  America.  Occurs  also  in 
Lower  California  and  Bermuda,  and  has  been  recorded  from 
England. 

This  rail,  often  called  the  sora,  is  the  best 
known  of  all  the  species  in  the  Eastern  and 
Middle  states,  and  is  abundant  on  nearly  all 
the  marshes  of  the  coast  and  larger  rivers.  It 
has  a  wide  distribution,  from  as  far  north  as 
latitude  62°,  where  it  has  been  taken  at  Fort 
Resolution  and  about  the  Red  River,  to  Mexico 
and  Central  America,  passing  through  the  West 
Indies.  The  habits  of  this  bird  are  peculiar. 
Depending  on  the  protection  of  the  high  marsh- 
grass,  the  rail  seldom  take  to  wing  unless  forced 
by  circumstances.  Undoubtedly  its  migrations 


286  The  Water-fowl  Family 

from  one  resting-place  to  another  occur  at  night. 
Places  devoid  of  birds  one  day  abound  with 
them  the  next.  Of  their  manner  of  travelling 
we  know  but  little,  but  they  have  been  seen 
through  a  telescope  on  clear,  moonlight  nights. 
That  the  flight  must  be  well  sustained  is  shown 
by  the  fact  that  the  birds  regularly  frequent 
the  islands  of  the  West  Indies,  and  there  are 
interesting  instances  of  enormous  flights  of  Caro- 
lina rail  suddenly  appearing  on  the  marshes  of 
Bermuda  after  southwesterly  gales,  arriving  fat 
and  in  good  condition,  evidently  well  prepared 
for  an  ocean  voyage.  Undoubtedly  the  marshes 
of  northern  South  America  are  among  the  win- 
tering-places. In  the  spring  they  appear  in  the 
favorite  haunts,  along  the  coast  and  inland,  in 
the  same  mysterious  way,  generally  late  in  April 
or  early  May,  breeding  abundantly  on  the  marshes 
of  the  interior  in  Wisconsin,  northern  Illinois,  and 
the  prairie  states,  as  far  west  as  eastern  Oregon. 
The  sora  rail  has  been  supposed  to  breed  between 
the  sixty-second  and  forty-second  parallels.  I 
found  the  birds  south  of  Tampico,  Mexico,  in 
May,  1901,  and  have  no  doubt  they  were  breeding. 
They  kept  in  the  high  grass  close  to  the  water, 
and  we  only  flushed  them  occasionally,  when 
walking  through ;  but  there  was  hardly  a  suitable 
place  on  the  islands  in  the  large  lagoon  between 
Tuxpan  and  Tampico,  where  I  did  not  see  them. 


Rail-shooting  287 

In  one  instance  we  camped  on  the  shore  of 
a  strip  of  high  grass,  off  one  of  the  islands. 
There  was  a  beach  about  two  feet  wide  between 
the  dry  marsh  and  the  water's  edge ;  here  I 
noticed  two  pair  of  sora  rail ;  they  would 
come  out  of  the  high,  dry  grass,  often  together, 
drink,  and  at  the  slightest  motion  dart  back, 
returning  in  a  few  minutes  to  go  through  the 
same  performance.  When  exposed  they  are  ex- 
ceedingly watchful,  and  running  along  the  beach 
look  much  like  a  small  rat.  The  nest  could  not 
be  found,  but  at  both  points  where  the  birds 
appeared  on  the  beach  there  was  a  little  path 
leading  into  the  grass.  In  its  common  breeding- 
places  the  nest  is  constructed  of  grass,  more  or 
less  arched  over,  and  under  broken  weeds  and 
grass  tops,  placed  near  the  edge  of  a  marsh  or 
on  a  solitary  tussock  in  the  water,  the  woven 
appearance  of  the  nest  making  it  sometimes 
noticeable  a  short  distance  off.  The  eggs  are 
usually  eight  to  twelve  in  number  and  are  hatched 
in  June.  By  August  the  young  birds  fly,  and  in 
September  are  shot  along  the  coasts  in  their 
various  resorts,  from  Connecticut  through  the 
South.  The  tidal  marshes  of  New  Jersey,  and 
those  of  the  tributary  rivers  of  the  Chesapeake, 
Virginia,  and  North  Carolina,  where  conditions 
favor  shooting,  are  all  popular  haunts.  On  the 
Delaware  River  they  are  killed  in  immense  num- 


288  The  Water-Jowl  Family 

bers.  The  negroes  on  the  James  River  often 
employ  fire-lighting,  and  the  birds  are  struck 
with  a  paddle  as  they  come  in  view  of  the  light. 
While  high  water  is  generally  essential  for  the 
regular  methods  of  hunting,  a  dog  is  used  some- 
times to  flush  them,  in  places  where  the  grass  is 
not  too  thick.  Unless  killed,  the  birds  are  very 
difficult  to  retrieve,  running  and  hiding,  if  neces- 
sary diving  a  short  distance  under  water.  The 
characteristic  clucking  note  is  often  the  only  evi- 
dence of  their  presence,  and  this  can  frequently 
be  heard  by  throwing  something  into  the  grass, 
an  indignant  response  to  the  disturbance.  With 
the  first  indications  of  cold  weather  the  Carolina 
rail  passes  south,  and  after  the  first  frosts  of 
October  the  more  northern  marshes  see  them 
no  more. 

YELLOW    RAIL 

(Porzana  noveboracensis) 

Adult  male  and  female  —  Upper  parts,  glossy  yellowish  buff,  the 
feathers  broadly  tipped  with  black  and  intersected  by  narrow 
bars  of  white;  breast,  buff;  belly,  whitish ;  flanks,  dusky,  with 
narrow  bars  of  white ;  axillars,  lining  of  the  wing,  and  exposed 
portion  of  secondaries,  white ;  bill,  greenish,  dull  yellow  at  its 
base ;  iris,  brown ;  feet  and  claws,  pale  flesh  color. 

Measurements  —  Length,  6  inches;  wing,  3.25  inches;  culmen,  .50 
inch ;  tarsus,  I  inch.  Specimens  from  the  same  locality  show 
considerable  variation  in  size  and  markings. 

Eggs  —  Usually  six  in  number ;  buff,  with  blotches  of  pale  brown, 
both  fine  and  large;  measure  i.io  by  .80  inches. 

Habitat  —  Breeds  from  Maine  and  Minnesota,  possibly  Pennsylvania, 
Ohio,  Indiana,  Michigan,  Illinois,  and  Kansas,  north  to  Mani- 


Rail-shooting  289 

toba  and  Hudson  Bay.  Winters  in  the  Gulf  states,  rarely  north 
to  Illinois,  and  in  California.  Occurs  also  in  Nevada  and  Utah, 
Nova  Scotia,  Bermuda,  and  Cuba. 

A  diminutive  member  of  the  family,  rarely  seen 
on  account  of  its  secretive  disposition,  seldom 
leaving  the  safe  seclusion  of  the  marsh.  It  has  a 
range  from  Texas  to  Hudson  Bay,  and  from  the 
Altantic  Coast  as  far  west  as  Utah  and  Nevada. 
The  little  yellow  rail,  or  yellow-breasted  rail,  is 
taken  occasionally  pretty  much  throughout  the 
United  States,  and  seems  to  frequent  fresh-water 
marshes;  the  bird  is  not  uncommon  about  San 
Antonio,  the  lower  part  of  Louisiana  and  Florida, 
and  keeps  in  the  cover  of  the  swamps  and  bayous. 
It  seems  to  prefer  the  fresh-water  marshes,  only 
rising  when  forced  to,  sometimes  allowing  a  dog 
to  catch  it.  The  flight  is  rather  faster  than  most 
of  the  common  rail  and  is  said  to  be  more  pro- 
tracted. Its  sharp  note  somewhat  resembles  the 
croaking  of  a  tree-frog,  a  guttural  krek-krek.  The 
migrations  of  the  little  yellow  rail  probably  are 
similar  to  those  of  other  members  of  the  family. 
The  bird  has  been  taken  in  New  England  in 
October  and  even  as  late  as  November.  An  in- 
teresting account  of  this  species,  in  a  letter  from 
Mr.  George  B.  Grinnell  to  Dr.  Merriam,  appears 
in  Coues'  "  Manual  of  New  England  Bird  Life," 
and  I  quote  it  here. 

"  I  was  working  a  young  setter  on  snipe,  on  a, 
u 


2  90  The  Water-fowl  Family 

piece  of  wet  meadow  near  Milford,  Connecticut, 
and  several  times  during  the  early  part  of  the  day 
was  annoyed  by  the  pertinacious  way  in  which 
the  dog  would  trail  up  some  bird  which  neither 
he  nor  I  could  start.  At  length,  during  one  of 
these  performances,  I  saw  the  puppy  grasp  at 
something  in  the  bog  before  him,  and  immedi- 
ately a  small  rail  rose  and  fluttered  a  few  yards. 
Noticing  its  small  size,  and  the  fact  that.it  had 
some  white  on  its  wings,  and  seeing  from  its 
flight  that  it  was  a  rail,  I  shot  the  bird  before  it 
had  gone  far,  and  when  it  was  brought  by  the 
dog  I  was  delighted  to  see  that  it  was  P.  novebo- 
racensis,  a  species  I  had  never  before  seen  alive. 
During  the  day  several  more  individuals  were 
secured.  The  next  opportunity  I  had  of  looking 
for  these  birds  was,  I  think,  October  14.  That 
day  my  brother  and  I  secured  eight  in  an  hour 
or  two.  They  were  ridiculously  tame,  and  would 
run  along  before  the  dog,  creeping  into  the  holes 
in  the  bog  and  hiding  there  while  we  tried  in 
vain  to  start  them.  I  killed  one  with  my  dog- 
whip,  caught  one  alive  in  my  hand,  and  the  dog 
brought  me  another,  uninjured,  which  he  had 
caught  in  his  mouth.  From  what  I  saw  of  their 
habits,  I  am  convinced  that  the  only  successful 
way  of  collecting  these  birds  is  to  look  for  them 
with  a  dog.  Without  one  they  could  never  be 
forced  from  the  ground." 


Rail-shooting  291 

The  nest  is  like  that  of  the  other  rails,  carefully 
hidden  in  the  grass  near  some  fresh-water  marsh, 
and  contains  usually  six  eggs.  They  resemble 
those  of  the  common  sora  rail,  but  are  somewhat 
smaller  and  of  a  buffy  brown  dotted  and  spotted 
with  reddish. 

I  mention  it  as  a  peculiar  coincidence  that 
while  actually  engaged  in  writing  these  lines 
about  the  little  yellow  rail  a  specimen  of  the  bird 
was  brought  to  me,  shot  on  the  Quinnipiac 
marshes  near  New  Haven,  October  i,  1902,  the 
only  one  I  have  ever  seen  in  the  flesh. 

BLACK    RAIL 

(Porzana  jamaicensis) 

Adult  male  and  female  —  Upper  parts,  blackish  ;  back  of  neck  and 
front  of  back,  dark  chestnut,  finely  speckled  and  barred  with 
white ;  head  and  under  parts,  dark  slate,  paler  on  the  throat ; 
belly,  flanks,  and  under  wing-coverts,  barred  with  white ;  quills 
and  tail  feathers  with  white  spots ;  bill,  black ;  iris,  red ;  feet, 
yellowish  green. 

Young — Similar,  but  crown  tinged  with  reddish  brown;  throat, 
whitish ;  lower  parts,  ashy. 

Measurements  —  Length,  5.50  inches;  wing,  2.75  inches;  tarsus, 
.75  inch ;  bill,  .50  inch. 

Eggs  —  Six  to  ten  in  number,  creamy  white,  finely  dotted  and  spotted 
with  brown,  measure  I  by  .80  inch. 

Habitat  —  Breeds  in  Jamaica,  and  from  North  Carolina,  at  least, 
north  to  Massachusetts,  New  York,  Illinois,  and  Kansas,  and 
probably  in  Ontario,  Ohio,  Indiana,  Michigan,  Wisconsin,  Min- 
nesota, Nebraska,  Utah  (?),  Oregon,  and  California.  Winters 
in  Jamaica,  in  the  Gulf  states  west  to  Texas  and  south  to 
Guatemala,  in  California  and  Arizona  (  ?).  Recorded  also  from 
Bermuda  and  Cuba,  and  Nova  Scotia  ( ?) . 


292  The  Water-fowl  Family 

An  almost  precisely  similar  species  is  described 
from  a  single  specimen  taken  on  the  Farallone 
Islands,  California.  The  Farallone  rail  (Porzana 
coturniculus)  is  somewhat  smaller,  and  the  back 
is  without  the  white  specks  noticeable  in  P. 
jamaicensis. 

This  species  is  the  smallest  of  the  North  Ameri- 
can rails  and  has  quite  an  extensive  distribution, 
having  been  taken  in  Central  America,  the  West 
Indies,  and  generally  throughout  the  United 
States  to  the  northern  border.  Its  small  size 
and  exceedingly  secretive  habits  undoubtedly  go 
far  to  explain  the  apparent  rarity.  Rather  than 
take  to  wing,  this  bird  will  sometimes  submit  to 
capture,  hiding  its  head  and  cocking  up  its  tail. 
The  flight  is  feeble  and  laborious,  poorly  sus- 
tained, and  only  for  a  few  yards,  when  it  drops 
back  into  the  grass.  The  note  is  said  to  be  a  high- 
pitched  chi-cro-croo.  There  are  instances  of  the 
little  black  rail  having  been  kept  alive  for  a  few 
days  in  captivity,  —  under  these  circumstances 
moping  about  with  head  drawn  in,  occasionally 
moving  in  a  deliberate  way.  Of  its  migrations 
we  know  but  little.  More  specimens  have  been 
taken  in  the  West  Indies  and  southern  United 
States  than  farther  north.  There  are  instances  of 
its  occurrences  near  Philadelphia,  in  New  Eng- 
land, northern  Illinois,  and  eastern  Oregon,  and 
in  all  of  these  localities  there  has  been  conclusive 


Rail-shooting  293 

evidence  of  its  breeding.  Mr.  J.  H.  Batty  shot 
two  of  this  species  in  a  fresh-water  marsh  near 
Hazardville,  Connecticut;  they  were  nesting.  Mr. 
J.  H.  Clark  records  an  instance  from  Saybrook, 
Connecticut,  of  a  bird  killed  on  its  nest,  by  a  scythe, 
and  all  but  four  of  the  ten  eggs  broken.  The  nest 
resembles  that  of  the  meadow  lark,  and  the  eggs 
are  described  as  being  white,  finely  dotted  with 
bright  brown.  In  May,  1898,  I  picked  up  a  speci- 
men of  this  species  dead,  at  Cobb's  Island,  Virginia. 
It  was  close  to  the  edge  of  a  dry  marsh,  just  inside 
the  ocean  beach,  and  was  about  half  eaten  by  ants. 
A  finely  mounted  bird  was  given  me  by  Mr.  Harry 
Austin  of  Halifax,  supposedly  killed  in  the  vicinity. 

The  black  rail  has  been  found  breeding  com- 
monly near  Raleigh,  North  Carolina,  by  the 
Messrs.  Brimley.  The  nests  are  situated  invari- 
ably in  a  tussock  in  a  wet  meadow,  where  the 
water  stands  around  the  high  grass.  The  eggs 
are  laid  from  the  last  of  May  to  the  first  of 
August,  and  are  from  six  to  eight  in  number. 

There  is  a  very  interesting  account  of  the  dis- 
tribution and  habits  of  this  species  by  Dr.  J.  A. 
Allen  in  the  Auk  for  January,  1900. 

CORN    CRAKE 
(Crex  crex) 

Adult  male  and  female  —  Upper  parts,  buff  or  light  drab,  striped  with 
black;  wings,  reddish  brown,  marked  indistinctly  with  white 
transverse  spots  on  the  larger  coverts ;  lining  of  the  wing,  cin- 


294  The  Water-fowl  Family 

namon  edged  with  white;  head,  gray  with  an  indistinct  loral 
stripe  of  drab ;  throat  and  belly,  white ;  jugulum  and  breast, 
pale  drab  ;  sides  banded  with  brown  and  white. 

Young —  Similar,  but  without  the  gray  on  the  head. 

Downy  young — Dark  sooty  brown;  head,  blackish;  bill,  dusky; 
iris,  brown ;  feet,  bluish  flesh  color. 

Measurements  —  Length,  10.50  inches;  wing,  6  inches;  oilmen, 0.88 
inch  ;  tarsus,  1.50  inches. 

Eggs — Seven  to  ten  in  number;  light  buff,  spotted  with  pale  red- 
dish brown ;  measure  1 .40  by  I  inches. 

Habitat  —  Europe  and  northern  Asia;  recorded  in  North  America 
from  Greenland,  Newfoundland,  Nova  Scotia,  Maine,  Rhode 
Island,  Connecticut,  New  York,  New  Jersey,  Virginia,  and 
Bermuda. 

The  corn  crake  is  a  bird  of  Europe,  regularly 
breeding  in  Greenland,  from  whence  it  straggles 
to  the  eastern  Atlantic  Coast  as  far  south  as  Long 
Island,  and  has  been  taken  in  Bermuda.  A  speci- 
men shot  near  Saybrook,  Connecticut,  is  in  the  pos- 
session of  John  H.  Clark,  Saybrook,  Connecticut. 

This  species  is  abundant  throughout  Europe, 
frequenting  wet  meadows  and  cultivated  fields. 
It  places  its  nest,  of  grass,  on  the  ground  in  a 
meadow  or  field  of  grain.  From  its  habits  it  is 
known  also  as  the  land  rail. 

PURPLE    GALLINULE 

{lonornis  martinica) 

Adult  male  and  female  —  Head,  neck,  and  lower  parts,  slaty  purple, 
darkest  on  the  abdomen ;  upper  parts,  olive-green,  changing  to 
blue  toward  the  purple  of  the  lower  parts ;  sides  and  lining  of 
the  wing,  greenish  blue ;  wings,  brighter  green  than  back,  and 
shaded  with  blue ;  crissum,  white ;  frontal  shield,  blue ;  bill,  red, 
tipped  with  yellow ;  iris,  crimson ;  legs  and  feet,  yellowish. 


Rail-shooting  295 

Young — Above,  light  fulvous  brown,  tinged  with  greenish  on  the 
wings;  beneath,  buff;  the  belly,  whitish ;  frontal  shield  smaller 
than  in  adult. 

Downy  young — Entirely  black. 

Measurements  —  Length,  12.50  inches;  wing,  7.25  inches;  culmen, 
1.90  inches;  tarsus,  2.25  inches. 

Eggs  —  Five  to  ten  in  number ;  pinkish  buff  with  markings  of  pur- 
plish slate,  mostly  in  the  form  of  small  round  spots ;  measure 
1.70  by  1.15  inches. 

Habitat  —  Tropical  America  from  Brazil  and  northern  South  America, 
north  to  the  West  Indies  and  Mexico,  and  breeding  in  the  United 
States  in  Florida,  South  Carolina,  and  Georgia,  and  from  Louisi- 
ana to  southern  Illinois.  Occurs  irregularly  north  to  Massachu- 
setts, Ohio,  Indiana,  and  Missouri,  and  possibly  breeds ;  and 
rarely  to  Nova  Scotia,  New  Brunswick,  Maine,  Ontario,  Wiscon- 
sin, Nebraska,  Kansas,  western  Texas,  and  Arizona.  Winters 
from  Florida  and  Louisiana,  possibly  South  Carolina,  south. 
Recorded  in  England  and  Bermuda. 

A  bird  of  the  southern  United  States,  breeding 
occasionally  as  far  north  as  South  Carolina ;  it  is 
found  south  along  the  Atlantic  Coast  from  this 
point  and  from  Florida  to  Mexico,  occurring  in 
the  West  Indies,  Central  America,  and  northern 
portions  of  South  America.  The  purple  gallinule 
has  turned  up  at  many  distant  points  and  has 
been  taken  on  the  Bay  of  Fundy  and  several 
times  in  New  England.  It  is  an  occasional 
visitor  to  Missouri,  Illinois,  Wisconsin,  and  Ohio. 
Many  of  these  remote  occurrences  have  been  un- 
doubtedly storm-driven  birds.  In  the  localities 
where  the  purple  gallinule  abounds,  it  keeps  under 
the  cover  of  grass  and  weeds,  venturing  out  in  the 
early  morning  or  toward  evening  to  the  close-by 


296  The  Water-fowl  Family 

shore,  always  on  the  alert,  at  the  first  suspicion  of 
danger  darting  back  to  cover,  only  taking  flight 
when  absolutely  forced.  The  movements  of  this 
bird  on  the  ground,  as  it  runs  over  the  leaves  and 
marshy  tangles  of  the  water's  surface,  are  quick 
and  graceful,  and  the  brilliancy  of  its  plumage 
remarkable.  The  note  is  loud  but  not  specially 
characteristic.  The  purple  gallinule  feeds  on 
worms,  snails,  and  various  vegetable  matter,  and 
from  its  fondness  for  the  plantain,  goes  sometimes 
by  the  name  of  plantain  coot,  and  as  carpenter 
coot,  from  the  noise  the  bird  makes  in  breaking 
the  shells  of  small  snails  against  pieces  of  timber. 
The  flesh  is  not  particularly  good.  Occasionally 
the  bird  is  seen  contented  in  captivity. 

FLORIDA    GALLINULE 
(Gallinula  galeata) 

Adult  male  and  female  —  Head,  neck,  and  entire  lower  parts,  dark 
lead  color,  often  nearly  black  on  the  head  and  neck,  lighter  on 
the  abdomen ;  crissum,  white ;  feathers  of  the  flanks  broadly 
edged  with  white  ;  edge  of  the  wing  and  edge  of  outer  primary, 
white;  upper  parts,  brownish,  darkest  on  the  rump;  bill  and 
frontal  shield,  scarlet,  the  tip  of  bill,  yellowish ;  iris,  brown ; 
legs  and  feet,  greenish  yellow ;  upper  part  of  the  tibiae,  scarlet. 

Young —  Similar,  but  with  smaller  frontal  shield ;  the  entire  lower 
parts,  whitish,  most  noticeable  on  the  throat ;  white  stripes  on 
the  flanks  less  marked. 

Downy  young  —  Glossy  black;  centre  of  abdomen,  sooty;  white 
hairs  on  throat;  bill,  yellow,  crowned  by  dark  bar. 

Measurements  —  Length,  12.50  inches;  wing,  7  inches;  oilmen, 
1.75  inches;  tarsus,  2.25  inches. 


Rail-shooting  297 

Eggs  —  Five  to  thirteen  in  number;  pale  buff,  with  scattered  mark- 
ings of  bright  reddish  brown;  measure  1.80  by  1.25  inches. 

Habitat  —  Tropical  and  temperate  America,  from  Chili  and  Argen- 
tina north  to  the  West  Indies,  and  in  North  America  to  Massa- 
chusetts, Vermont,  New  York,  Ontario,  Minnesota,  Nebraska, 
Texas,  Arizona,  and  California,  breeding  throughout  its  range. 
Occurs  also  rarely  in  Maine  (possibly  breeds),  New  Bruns- 
wick, Nova  Scotia,  Quebec,  Colorado,  and  Lower  California. 
Winters  from  South  Carolina,  Illinois,  Texas,  Arizona,  and 
California  south.  Resident  in  Bermuda  and  the  Galapagos 
Islands. 

The  Florida  gallinule  is  most  common  in  the 
southern  Gulf  states,  and  is  abundant  in  vari- 
ous regions  of  northern  South  America,  Cen- 
tral America,  and  Mexico,  along  the  Gulf 
coast,  ranging  north  into  various  parts  of  the 
Great  Lake  region,  and  occurring  sparingly  in 
New  England  and  along  the  northern  border  of 
the  United  States.  It  frequents  the  smaller 
marshes,  keeping  pretty  much  to  the  grass  and 
sedge,  avoiding  flight  if  possible ;  and,  when 
forced  to  take  wing,  does  so  in  rather  a  labori- 
ous way,  with  feet  hanging  down,  at  this  time 
often  uttering  its  harsh  cry.  The  bird  breeds 
throughout  its  range  in  secluded  fresh-water 
marshes,  constructing  the  nest  of  rushes  and 
withered  plants,  covering  its  eggs  when  away. 
Both  sexes  share  in  incubation,  often  hatching  a 
second  brood  in  the  same  nest ;  the  flock  of  eight 
or  ten  keeping  in  places  where  the  edges  of  ponds 
afford  abundant  cover  in  the  form  of  rushes  and 


298  The  Water-fowl  Family 

sedge.  If  the  haunts  are  carefully  watched,  the 
birds  will  be  seen  occasionally  to  emerge  and  run 
about  the  exposed  shore,  watchful  all  the  time, 
darting  back  into  the  grass  at  the  slightest  provo- 
cation. The  food  consists  of  various  seeds  and 
snails,  but  the  flesh  is  not  particularly  good. 
North  of  South  Carolina  this  species  is  more 
or  less  irregular,  but  breeds  commonly  in  the 
marshes  of  northern  Illinois,  southern  Wisconsin, 
and  about  Lake  Ontario. 


AMERICAN    COOT 
(Fulica  americand) 

Adult  male  and  female  —  Head  and  neck  and  anterior  central  por- 
tion of  crissum,  black ;  lateral  and  posterior  portions  of  crissum, 
edge  of  wing,  and  tips  of  secondaries,  white  ;  rest  of  plumage, 
slate  color;  bill,  white,  becoming  bluish  at  the  end;  both 
mandibles,  with  a  dark  brown  spot  near  the  ends,  bordered 
anteriorly  with  a  less  distinct  bar  of  chestnut ;  frontal  shield, 
dark  brown  ;  the  oilmen,  just  in  front,  tinged  with  yellow  ;  iris, 
bright  hazel ;  legs,  yellowish  green ;  the  tibiae,  tinged  behind 
and  above  with  orange;  toes,  bluish  gray,  tinged  with  green 
on  scutallae  and  basal  phalanges.  In  winter  the  lower  parts  are 
paler. 

Measurements  —  Length,  14  inches  ;  wing,  7.50  inches  ;  oilmen,  1.25 
inches  ;  tarsus,  2  inches. 

Young —  Similar  but  paler ;  throat,  white  ;  rest  of  lower  parts  tipped 
with  whitish ;  head,  slate  color,  speckled  with  whitish ;  iris, 
brown ;  bill,  dull  flesh  color,  tinged  with  greenish ;  frontal 
shield,  rudimentary. 

Downy  young —  Ground  color,  blackish  ;  the  downy  feathers  pro- 
longed in  slender  bristles,  which  are  pale  orange  on  back  and 
breast,  reddish  orange  on  neck  and  chin,  and  whitish  on  rest  of 
body  ;  occiput,  bare  ;  rest  of  crown,  black  without  bristles  ;  lores 


Rail-shooting  299 

covered  with  short,  orange-red  papillae ;  bill,  orange-red ;  max- 
illa, tipped  with  black ;  legs  and  feet,  isabella  color. 

Eggs  —  Six  to  fifteen  in  number,  light  buff,  sprinkled  with  minute 
specks  and  dots  of  dark  brown  and  blackish,  measure  1.85  by 
1.25  inches. 

Habitat  —  Breeds  in  the  West  Indies,  Mexico,  and  Lower  California, 
and  in  North  America  in  Florida  (?),  and  from  Virginia,  Penn- 
sylvania, Kentucky,  Louisiana,  Texas,  and  the  Mexican  border 
north  to  New  Brunswick,  Quebec,  Hudson  Bay,  the  Mackenzie 
River,  and  British  Columbia.  Occurs  also  in  Nova  Scotia, 
Labrador,  Greenland,  and  at  Fort  Yukon,  Alaska.  Rare  east 
of  the  Alleghanies,  except  in  fall  migration.  Winters  from  Vir- 
ginia, possibly  New  Jersey,  Kentucky,  Indiana,  Illinois,  Mis- 
souri (?),  Utah,  Nevada,  and  British  Columbia,  south  to  Panama 
and  Trinidad  (?).  Occurs  in  Bermuda. 

Widely  known  as  mud-hen ;  a  common  bird 
throughout  temperate  North  America  and  rang- 
ing through  the  southern  countries  to  northern 
South  America  and  the  West  Indies,  it  breeds 
generally  throughout  its  range.  It  is  common  as 
far  north  as  the  marshes  of  the  Saskatchewan  and 
has  even  been  taken  in  Greenland  and  Alaska. 
The  coot  is  not  common  on  the  Atlantic  Coast 
except  in  the  more  southern  portions ;  but  in  the 
interior  and  on  the  prairie  sloughs  it  swarms,  in 
some  instances  almost  covering  them ;  after  the 
last  duck  has  left  the  pond  the  mud-hens  remain, 
and  only  when  obliged,  move  out  of  the  way.  In 
taking  wing  the  birds  run  along  the  surface  of 
the  water  for  a  short  distance  before  leaving  it,  — 
if  there  are  many  of  them,  with  great  clatter,  — 
finally  rising,  when  their  low  flight  is  marked  by 


300  The  Water-fowl  Family 

a  whir  of  wings.  On  the  water  they  are  excellent 
swimmers  and  good  divers,  occasionally  obtain- 
ing their  food  from  shallow  bottom.  This  con- 
sists of  various  grasses  and  vegetable  matter, 
snails  and  little  shellfish,  a  diet  which  is  not 
conducive  to  excellency.  The  flesh  of  the  bird  is 
dark  and  unpalatable.  The  nest  is  among  reeds 
and  grasses  close  to  the  water,  loosely  constructed 
of  rushes;  it  is  quite  a  bulky  structure  and  con- 
tains from  ten  to  fifteen  eggs.  The  coot  is  often 
seen  in  company  with  the  different  varieties  of 
ducks,  the  ducks  in  some  instances  feeding  on  the 
water  grasses  and  vegetable  matter  the  mud-hens 
bring  up.  In  April  this  species  is  the  most 
abundant  bird  on  the  lagoons  and  marshy  lakes 
along  the  Gulf  Coast  of  Mexico,  occurring  in  vast 
flocks,  covering,  in  some  instances,  an  acre  or 
more.  The  natives  regularly  salt  the  flesh  for 
food,  preferring  to  hunt  them  rather  than  ducks 
because  of  the  numbers  that  can  be  killed  at  a 
shot.  On  one  occasion  I  saw  twenty-eight  picked 
up  after  a  single  barrel.  On  the  large  sounds 
south  of  Tampico,  we  were  wakened  regularly 
through  the  night  by  flocks  suddenly  leaving  the 
water ;  the  noise  made  under  these  circumstances 
was  great.  The  birds  were  startled  by  alligators, 
which  were  numerous  everywhere  and  undoubtedly 
preyed  upon  the  mud-hens.  In  one  instance  this 
performance  was  seen. 


Rail-shooting  301 


EUROPEAN    COOT 

(Fulica  atrd) 

Adult  male  and  female  —  Similar  to  the  American  coot,  but  some- 
what larger ;  tip  of  secondaries,  not  white ;  very  narrow  white 
edge  to  outer  primary;  bill,  pale  red,  tipped  with  white,  and 
without  dark  spots  ;  frontal  shield,  bluish  white. 

Young —  Similar  to  adult,  but  more  grayish ;  bill  and  frontal  shield, 
greenish ;  iris,  brown. 

Downy  young —  Similar  to  the  American  coot,  but  the  long  filaments 
on  the  body  whitish. 

Measurements — Length,  1 6  inches  ;  wing,  8.25  inches;  culmen  with 
frontal  shield,  1.85  inches;  tarsus,  2.30  inches;  middle  toe,  3 
inches. 

Eggs  —  Six  to  fourteen  in  number,  pale  buff,  spotted  with  brownish 
black  and  purplish  gray,  measure  2.15  by  1.50  inches. 

Habitat  —  Northern  parts  of  the  eastern  hemisphere;  accidental  in 
Greenland. 

The  European  coot  closely  resembles  our  bird 
in  appearance  and  habits.  It  is  slightly  larger,  has 
less  white  on  the  wings,  and  no  dark  spots  on  the 
bill.  It  inhabits  the  marshy  ponds  of  Europe, 
placing  its  large  and  loosely  formed  nest  among 
the  rushes  that  it  frequents.  Professor  J.  Rein- 
hardt  has  reported  its  occurrence  in  Greenland. 


CHAPTER  VIII 

SHORE-BIRD   SHOOTING 

SHORE-BIRDS  bring  to  our  minds  the  marshes 
and  flats  along  our  shores  in  summer ;  from  the 
northern  limits  of  the  Atlantic  to  the  pampas  of 
the  Argentine  Republic  and  Patagonia  are  their 
haunts.  Early  in  the  summer,  their  nesting  duties 
over,  their  young  fledged,  they  gather  in  flocks  on 
the  shores  of  the  Arctic  Sea  and  the  countries  of 
the  North.  With  the  waning  of  the  Arctic  sum- 
mer they  are  on  their  way,  and  by  early  August 
this  army  has  reached  the  coast  of  Canada  and 
the  United  States.  The  heart  of  the  sportsman 
is  glad.  He  sees  the  broad  expanse  of  shallow 
flats,  left  bare  by  a  falling  tide,  their  feeding- 
ground,  and  the  marsh  dotted  with  little  pools, 
their  resting-place,  the  outlying  points  by  which 
they  fly,  the  flight  with  the  rising  water.  It  is  all 
irresistible,  well  may  he  yearn  for  the  beaches  and 
marshes.  Formerly  myriads  of  these  birds  fol- 
lowed our  coasts  on  their  journeys  north  and 
south,  stopping  a  time  where  extensive  feeding- 
grounds  enticed  them.  Cape  Cod,  Long  Island, 
Barnegat,  the  bays  of  Virginia  and  North  Caro- 

302 


Shore-bird  Shooting  303 

lina,  —  what  could  these  beaches  tell  of  shore-birds 
and  man's  wantonness !  It  is  the  same  old  story, 
oft  repeated  in  these  pages.  They  are  gone ;  a 
vestige  remains  and  follows  the  migratory  courses 
south,  but  the  hordes  of  the  past  will  never  again 
be  seen.  Many  of  the  commonest  have  become 
rare.  Flocks  of  golden  plover  once  blackened 
the  air  along  our  shores,  now  few  are  seen ;  the 
Eskimo  curlew  has  suddenly  disappeared ;  the 
godwits  and  the  long-billed  curlew  are  hardly 
stragglers  on  the  eastern  coast.  Sportsmen  and 
gunners  still  hunt  the  remnant.  Shore-bird  shoot- 
ing has  so  changed  in  the  past  few  years  that  the 
descriptions  of  former,  even  recent,  haunts  seem 
almost  strange. 

In  1886  I  spent  a  summer  at  Monomoy  Island, 
Cape  Cod.  We  stayed  at  the  branting  shanties 
in  charge  of  Alonzo  Nye.  It  was  early  in 
August,  the  weather  had  been  steadily  hot,  and 
on  our  arrival  there  were  but  few  birds  on  the 
flats :  some  turnstone,  dowitchers,  and  several 
small  flocks  of  plover  were  all ;  but  with  the  next 
few  days  there  was  a  change,  and  by  the  loth 
of  August  blackbreast  swarmed.  There  were 
thousands,  and  other  big  birds  in  proportion.  At 
that  time,  close  to  the  branting  shanties  was  a 
cut-through,  an  opening  from  the  ocean  into  the 
bay,  and  where  it  broadened  on  to  the  flats  were 
patches  of  sedge,  the  remnants  of  an  old  marsh. 


304  The  Water-fowl  Family 

On  these  little  patches  the  grass  grew  thick  and 
high,  affording  ideal  cover.  At  the  height  of  the 
tide  perhaps  a  foot  of  water  covered  them.  With 
low  water  they  were  bare,  surrounded  by  flats 
that  reached  out  into  the  bay  for  miles.  An  hour 
or  so  after  the  ebb  tide  we  took  our  places  in 
these  clumps,  set  out  a  few  decoys  in  the  shallow 
water  at  their  edge  and  waited  for  the  flight.  Al- 
most on  the  hour  it  came :  first,  blackbreast,  fly- 
ing well  up  over  the  water  in  flocks  of  ten  to 
fifteen,  sweeping  over  the  bay  from  the  high  outer 
beaches  where  they  roosted  and  spent  the  time  at 
high  tide.  I  remember  the  first  one  I  shot:  it 
was  one  of  a  flock  of  a  dozen  or  more,  and  they 
came  right  overhead,  flying  full  with  the  wind. 

But  to  get  back  to  the  blind  and  decoys.  Gen- 
erally we  waited  a  half-hour  for  the  tide  to  reach 
just  the  right  point ;  I  marked  it  with  a  stake, 
and  just  as  that  stake  showed  I  considered  the 
time  had  come  to  keep  low.  Many  a  time  have  I 
looked  out  on  the  water  from  just  over  the  tops 
of  that  clump  of  grass  and  seen  a  string  of  birds 
leading  up  from  the  east,  then  crouched  back 
again  and  endured  mosquitoes  untold  until  it 
came  time  to  be  up  and  doing.  One  morning  I 
shot  twelve  blackbreast  here  at  a  tide;  this 
doesn't  sound  very  big,  but  the  days  when  I  have 
killed  more  since  have  been  few.  There  is  some- 
thing fascinating  about  a  plover  over  the  decoys. 


Shore-bird  Shooting 


305 


With  dovelike  speed  they  come,  when  just  at  the 
edge  of  the  stool  the  wings  droop  —  the  birds 
sail  on  set  wings  for  a  second,  then  light;  in- 
stantly suspicious,  they  run  a  few  steps  and  leave 
as  quickly  as  they  came.  You  hear  the  shrill, 
sweet  note,  faint  and  far  off;  it  answers  your 
clumsy  attempt  to  whistle,  and  in  a  minute  the 
graceful  birds  hover  at  the  mercy  of  the  gun. 
Occasionally  the  mellow  note  of  a  yellowleg 
announces  a  different  visitor.  Yellowleg  were 
not  very  abundant  at  Monomoy,  but  we  usually 
gathered  in  a  few.  Their  flight  lacks  the  speed 
of  a  plover,  and  they  sail  along  calling  frequently, 
asking  for  a  place  to  light ;  unfortunately  places 
were  plenty.  Rarely  dowitchers  were  in  evidence ; 
they  came  singly  and  in  small  flocks,  and  the  lit- 
tle compact  bunch  generally  accepted  the  invita- 
tion to  tarry;  once  shot  into  and  a  few  birds 
downed,  the  others  heard  their  cries,  and  came 
again.  For  two  or  three  days  after  a  heavy 
storm  there  was  quite  a  flight  of  redbreast;  one 
afternoon  a  pair  of  curlew  circled  over  the  decoys 
too  close ;  these  were  the  first  I  had  seen.  I  re- 
member a  good-sized  flock  of  willet,  one  of  the 
few  times  I  have  ever  seen  them  in  a  flock ;  they 
came  by  a  good  way  off  and  parted  with  a  single 
bird.  This  was  the  run  of  birds  we  saw  at 
Monomoy  that  summer.  The  shooting  generally 
lasted  for  over  an  hour  on  the  ebb-tide.  During 


306  The  Water-fowl  Family 

the  intervals,  when  larger  shore-birds  were  not 
forthcoming,  the  attention  was  attracted  by  the 
countless  terns  on  tireless  wing,  everywhere  about, 
diving  at  the  decoys,  screaming  whenever  any 
bird  met  its  fate ;  now  and  then  dark-colored 
jagars  chased  the  terns  and  robbed  them  of 
their  food,  or  often  a  clumsy  heron  squawked  out 
a  protest  at  the  desecration  of  its  favorite  marsh. 
These  sights  and  sounds  of  the  shore  were  ever 
present ;  now  even  the  gulls  are  gone. 

That  summer  at  Monomoy  was  a  first  experi- 
ence and  like  all  such,  the  pleasantest  of  all. 

There  are  one  or  two  points  in  Shinnecock 
Bay,  Long  Island,  from  which  now,  with  favorable 
winds  and  weather,  good  bags  of  birds  can  be 
made.  For  the  past  two  summers  a  gang  of 
market  hunters  have  lived  on  the  best  point, 
sleeping  in  their  boats  and  watching  decoys  from 
dawn  to  dark,  all  summer  long.  Here,  on  several 
occasions,  some  years  since,  I  enjoyed  a  good  day's 
shooting.  A  Shinnecock  Indian,  Bunn  was  his 
name,  generally  went  with  us.  We  spent  the 
night  before  at  Southampton  and  drove  over; 
Bunn  was  on  the  point,  stools  set  and  ready ;  it 
was  some  time  before  light,  and  mosquitoes  were 
in  swarms.  We  hunted  them  for  a  while  until  the 
clear  note  of  a  yellowleg  called  us  to  order.  At 
Shinnecock  nearly  every  bird  leads  by  this  par- 
ticular point,  so  we  counted  on  one  yellowleg 


Shore-bird  Shooting  307 

just  as  soon  as  it  whistled.  Bunn  replies  once  or 
twice,  with  the  result  the  bird  is  fixed ;  it  circles 
before  the  blind  and  swoops  among  the  stool  to 
drop  at  the  first  shot.  A  flock  of  three,  two  big 
yellowlegs  and  a  little  one,  now  head  for  the 
stand,  low  down  close  to  the  water;  they  don't 
need  any  encouragement.  My  companion,  with- 
out a  conscience,  pots  two,  the  third  gets  off ;  but 
Bunn  seduces  him,  and  this  time  he  stays.  Sun- 
rise is  at  its  height,  and  as  we  face  the  glow  a 
flock  comes  out  of  the  east,  looking  black  and  big ; 
we  flatten  down,  and  soon  six  plover  cut  over  the 
stool ;  my  pot-hunter  pal  waits  for  them  to  light 
and  line  up,  with  the  result  he  doesn't  even  get  a 
shot.  A  few  more  yellowlegs  straggle  along. 
Bunn  calls  in  a  good-sized  bunch  of  kriekers, 
which  are  nearly  all  murdered  ;  a  single  dowitcher, 
and  we  count  up  about  eighteen  birds  —  a  mon- 
strous big  bag  for  Shinnecock. 

The  bays  of  Virginia  and  North  Carolina, 
spring  and  fall,  are  the  tarrying-place  for  thou- 
sands of  shore-birds ;  here  many  make  a  last  stop- 
ping before  the  tedious  flight  to  Labrador  and 
beyond,  in  calm  weather  probably  keeping  straight 
out  to  sea  from  the  time  of  their  leaving.  These 
waters  are  lined  with  shallow  flats,  dotted  every- 
where with  marshes,  a  shore-bird's  paradise.  In 
these  spots  I  have  spent  many  a  delightful  hour, 
out  of  reach  of  the  world  in  a  Chesapeake  Bay 


3o8  The  Water-fowl  Family 

boat,  anchored  close  to  a  marsh,  where  with  the 
first  break  of  day  we  shall  be  hidden  in  a  seaweed 
blind  behind  a  stand  of  decoys.     We  have  our 
supper  of  broiled  birds,  and  eat  a  big  one,  then  sit 
and  smoke  a  bit  and  turn  in.     It  isn't  a  perfectly 
comfortable  bunk.    Further  particulars  are  not  nec- 
essary; but  we  sleep  just  the  same,  and  when  the 
time  comes  to  wake  up,  even  the  thought  of  cur- 
lew doesn't  make  us  lively  —  but  this  is  only  tem- 
porary.    We  get  breakfast ;  Davy  puts  us  ashore 
and  carries  a  big  basket  of  decoys  up  to  the  blind ; 
he  sets  them  out  and  leaves  us;    the  tide  is  just 
right,  and  in  a  few  minutes  it  will  be  fairly  light. 
A  whistle  off  to  the  left  indicates  curlew  are  about, 
and  we  keep  a  careful  lookout.     A  flock  of  six 
suddenly  appears  in  front  of  us  without  warning ; 
they  catch  the  establishment  unawares  and  shy 
off,  but  we  see  a  pair  following  in  their  wake  and 
call  them  up.     Curlew  do  not  often  alight  to  de- 
coys here,  for  the  blinds  are  large  and  conspicu- 
ous and  not  on  the  feeding-ground ;  but  they  often 
fly  by  in  range,  and  so  did  this  particular  pair,  with 
the  result  that  there  were  two  less  curlew  on  Broad- 
water.     A  flock  of  dowitchers  now  curve  around 
the  stool  and  give  us  a  hovering  shot ;  four  or  five 
escape,  but  come  back  and  hover  some  more  with 
disastrous  results  ;  a  pair  of  laughing  gulls  and 
any  number  of  terns  protest  against  such  actions, 
with  no  avail.     Some  more  curlew;  there  are  any 


Shore-bird  Shooting  309 

quantity  of  birds  stirring;  flock  after  flock  of 
curlew  has  passed  by  just  out  of  reach ;  now 
we  let  loose  at  four ;  a  little  nearer,  and  one  folds 
up.  A  plover  comes  next  and  decoys  without  a 
second  thought,  then  another  small  bunch  of 
dowitchers;  a  single  bird  is  left  when  we  finish. 
John  cuts  down  a  curlew  way  off  in  front.  The 
tide  is  getting  down,  and  birds  are  less  in  evi- 
dence ;  our  visitors  now  are  turnstone ;  we  stop 
shooting  them  after  a  time ;  Davy  comes  up  with 
his  basket,  and  we  go  back  for  lunch.  He  counts 
up  ten  curlew,  and  about  thirty  birds  in  all. 

Among  the  most  popular  resorts  for  shore-birds 
now  are  the  islands  in  the  Gulf  of  St.  Lawrence 
and  parts  of  the  adjacent  mainland.  For  a  num- 
ber of  years  I  have  patronized  some  of  these  spots. 
We  spent  a  few  days  not  long  ago  at  Amherst, 
and  stayed  at  Metric's.  Metric  was  a  French- 
Canadian  who  owned  a  horse  and  good  wagon,  so 
we  put  up  at  his  house ;  he  drove  us  over  every 
morning,  four  miles  to  the  beach  —  a  hard  drive 
over  soft  sand.  On  one  particular  morning,  three 
of  us  crowded  into  his  cart  and  Metric's  horse 
dragged  the  outfit  for  about  an  hour,  then  just 
struck  and  refused  to  go  any  farther,  so  we  piled 
out.  It  had  been  storming  hard  for  three  days, 
blowing  and  raining,  and  was  doing  both  then;  in 
fact  it  was  blowing  so  hard  you  couldn't  face  the 
wind  without  finding  your  face  in  a  sand-bank. 


310  The  Water-fowl  Family 

The  tide  was  high  and  it  was  still  dark;  we 
couldn't  see  exactly  what  to  do.  There  was  some 
little  discussion ;  my  companions  wanted  to  cross 
over  the  lagoon  and  shoot  from  the  farther  side ; 
the  island  we  were  on  seemed  good  enough  for 
me.  We  wound  up  by  each  going  his  own  way; 
I  stayed  put.  It  was  perhaps  a  hundred  yards  to 
the  farther  end  of  the  bluff,  which  was  surrounded 
on  all  sides  by  the  tide ;  this  would  afford  some 
protection  from  the  wind,  and  thither  I  go;  a 
narrow  spit  of  sand  formed  a  bar  at  this  end,  and 
here  stood  a  single  plover,  all  of  which  seemed  a 
good  sign.  After  finding  as  dry  a  place  as  possi- 
ble for  my  gun  and  shells,  I  look  around  for  some 
seaweed  to  make  a  blind  with ;  as  is  usually  the 
case  when  you  want  seaweed  very  much,  or  any- 
thing else,  it  isn't  to  be  had,  and  it  was  only  after 
considerable  labor  that  I  could  scrape  enough 
together  to  pretty  well  cover  me  up,  if  I  stretched 
out  full  length.  I  had  about  a  dozen  flat  wooden 
decoys,  and  I  set  these  out  in  water  at  the  edge 
of  the  bar.  That  single  plover  was  the  only  evi- 
dence of  anything  alive  up  to  date,  and  it  must 
have  been  close  to  six  o'clock.  Soon  a  flock  of 
Caspian  tern  squawked  at  the  blind  —  they  evi- 
dently had  a  liking  for  the  bar.  Several  Bona- 
parte's gulls  circle  around  it  for  a  while,  then  put 
up  with  what  they  can't  help,  and  light  in  the 
decoys ;  presently  a  flock  of  blackbreast,  far  out 


Shore-bird  Shooting  311 

over  the  lagoon,  entices  me  out  of  the  shelter  of  the 
bluff ;  I  shudder  once  or  twice,  and  then  lie  down 
on  my  back  in  the  wet  sand.  The  clear,  shrill 
note  of  a  blackbreast  rings  out,  and  presently 
comes  the  first  shot ;  it  was  a  lucky  one,  for  the 
bird  didn't  light  or  pretend  to,  but  just  swept  by 
with  the  wind.  A  flock  of  three;  all  hover,  I 
kill  one.  Four,  and  then  a  pair,  and  several  single 
birds,  all  blackbreast,  come  heading  into  the  stool 
under  the  lee  of  the  island.  Now  they  are  every- 
where, all  following  the  lagoon  toward  the  flats, 
which  are  beginning  to  show.  I  have  been  shoot- 
ing fast,  and  considering  wind  and  everything  else, 
have  done  pretty  well.  A  flock  of  peep  with 
something  big  in  it  comes  along;  I  bag  the  big 
part  of  the  bunch  and  pick  up  a  dowitcher.  Several 
single  yellowlegs  drop  in,  a  few  more  blackbreast, 
and  one  curlew.  The  curlew  was  a  hard  shot, 
high  up  and  a  good  way  off,  but  he  collapsed  at 
the  second  barrel.  The  tide  has  left  me  high 
and  dry,  or  rather  high  and  wet,  and  as  the  flight 
is  over,  I  pull  up  stakes.  There  are  over  thirty 
birds,  mostly  blackbreasted  plover,  piled  up  by  the 
blind.  This  was  the  biggest  bag  of  blackbreast 
I  ever  made.  I  wonder  if  my  wayward  pals  have 
been  done  up  and  come  to  the  conclusion  they 
have ;  it  is  a  long  way  across  to  the  other  shore, 
but  here  goes,  and  I  drag  myself  over  the  soft, 
wet  sand.  They  had  found  good  shooting,  —  one 


312  The  Water-fowl  Family 

bagged  twenty-five,  the  other  eighteen,  —  and  both 
were  congratulating  themselves  on  having  done 
me. 

WADING  THE  MARSHES 

Though  decoys  and  blinds  are  required  in  shoot- 
ing successfully  most  varieties  of  our  shore-birds, 
by  wading  the  marshes  it  is  possible  in  some  in- 
stances to  shoot  yellowlegs  and  grass-snipe,  while 
the  Wilson's  snipe  is  always  killed  in  this  way. 
Generally  a  sportsman  will  prefer  boots  to  going 
without,  though  the  lightest  of  these  are  heavy 
and  hot.  Early  August  is  the  season  the  summer 
yellowlegs  first  frequent  our  marshes,  when  the 
grass  is  beginning  to  be  cut  and  the  salt  meadow 
is  dotted  here  and  there  with  haycocks.  In  the  area 
where  the  grass  has  been  freshly  mowed  insects 
swarm,  and  here  waders  that  seek  the  marsh  will 
likely  be.  The  early  hours  of  morning  are  none 
too  soon,  and  if  the  gunner  has  picked  a  day  when 
birds  are  there,  the  mellow  whistle  of  a  yellowleg 
soon  tells  their  whereabouts.  Moving  carefully 
in  the  direction  of  the  note,  the  birds  are  soon  in 
evidence,  probably  near  some  pool  in  the  short  grass 
or  in  the  wet  meadow.  Likely  they  take  wing  at 
the  first  suspicion  of  approach,  and  perhaps  no 
clumps  of  hay  offer  the  chance  of  crawling  up.  If 
there  is  nothing  to  hide  behind,  the  gunner  just 
drops;  and  now  comes  the  opportunity  for  whistling. 
A  yellowleg  is  easy  to  imitate,  and  usually  readily 


Shore-bird  Shooting  313 

replies.  The  flock  rise  high  and  circle  about  the 
marsh.  Continually  to  their  cries  comes  the  an- 
swer from  the  spot  they  left.  The  birds  hesitate 
and  finally  turn,  heading  back  for  the  little  pool. 
Once  within  range  a  single  bird  drops,  the  mark  is 
easy,  and  before  the  frightened  flock  recover  they 
leave  a  second.  In  the  early  morning  hours  rest- 
less, uneasy  birds,  looking  for  a  place  to  light  and 
companions,  often  betray  their  presence  long  be- 
fore they  come  in  sight.  A  single  yellowleg  is 
usually  susceptible,  and  sometimes  when  shot  at 
offers  himself  a  second  time.  In  case  a  wounded 
bird  utters  distressed  cries,  near-by  relatives  are 
very  liable  to  respond,  for  like  many  of  our  waders 
they  love  their  own.  If  a  large  flock  is  disturbed 
from  some  feeding-place,  the  birds  after  a  time 
may  return  in  small  numbers,  and  this  offers  a 
rare  opportunity. 

Next  to  the  yellowleg  perhaps  the  "krieker" 
is  most  commonly  met  with  on  the  marshes. 
Krieker  is  a  popular  name  for  the  pectoral  sand- 
piper; the  bird  is  also  called  jack-snipe  and  grass- 
snipe.  They  are  generally  found  in  small  flocks 
and  often  separate  over  a  small  patch  of  grass, 
jumping  up  singly  or  in  twos  and  threes.  If  in 
the  right  cover,  these  birds  not  infrequently  allow 
a  close  approach  and  rise  something  after  the 
manner  of  a  snipe.  Late  in  the  fall  we  find  them 
occasionally  in  very  large  flocks. 


3 14  The  Water-fowl  Family 

There  is  something  fascinating  about  the 
marsh  seen  in  this  way,  and  even  mosquitoes  do 
not  detract  from  the  charm  of  it.  With  the 
heavy  storms  of  August  and  September  the  salt- 
water meadows  along  the  coast  are  often  a  shelter 
for  birds  otherwise  seldom  seen  on  them.  The 
golden  plover  drop  in  now  and  then,  and  the 
redbreast.  I  have  seen  phalarope  in  the  little 
pools  among  the  grass;  hence  during  the  end 
of  a  storm  or  immediately  after  is  the  time. 
Dowitchers  are  marsh  dwellers,  and  not  infre- 
quently lie  close  in  the  grass.  They  rise  with  the 
twist  of  a  Wilson's  snipe. 

Lastly  comes  the  most  important.  I  speak  of 
him  last  for  the  reason  his  habits  differ  from  the 
other  shore-birds,  and  then,  too,  because  a  good 
thing  is  often  fitting  at  the  end,  —  the  Wilson's 
snipe. 

This  bird  is  the  favorite  of  them  all,  and  has 
paid  the  price  of  popularity.  The  haunts  of 
the  Wilson's  snipe  differ  from  those  of  the 
other  waders.  While  he  is  on  many  of  the 
marshes  they  frequent,  his  happy  home  is  the  bog 
where  the  marsh  is  so  soft  it  shakes  as  you 
step  from  tussock  to  tussock.  Here  in  the 
treacherous  mire  he  may  escape  —  may  treach- 
erous mires  long  last !  On  the  dry  marshes  the 
snipe  stops,  but  the  time  of  his  lingering  is  gen- 
erally short.  Dog  and  man  pursue  him.  Little 


Shore-bird  Shooting  315 

spring  holes  marked  with  green  fresh  grass  are 
the  nooks  that  bear  his  evidence.  Often  in  these 
patches  we  come  on  companies  of  five  or  six,  or 
perhaps  they  are  well  scattered  on  the  dry  marsh, 
and,  under  such  circumstances,  wild.  In  all  events, 
hunt  them  down  wind  and  allow  no  advantages 
to  the  twisting  flight.  With  a  startled  "  scaipe  " 
a  snipe  rises  close  in  front,  and  the  gunner  of 
experience  either  nails  it  on  the  second  or  lets  it 
twist  a  bit  and  straighten  out,  and  when  the  bird 
falls,  marks  close  the  spot,  for  with  back  upward 
a  snipe  is  hard  to  see. 

With  approaching  evening  they  become  active, 
and  the  "  scaipe  "  of  a  restless  bird  looking  for  a 
spot  to  "  bore  "  in  peace  is  one  of  the  dusk  sounds 
of  the  marsh. 

THE  SHORE-BIRDS 

(Limicolce) 

To  all  the  inhabitants  of  the  earth  the  shore- 
birds  are  familiar;  for  from  the  dreary  wastes  of 
Grinnell  Land,  and  the  solitude  of  Kerguelen, 
to  the  steaming  jungles  of  Brazil  and  the  arid 
plains  of  the  Sahara,  in  the  coral  islets  of  ocean 
and  far  up  the  snow-capped  mountains,  hardly  a 
spot  can  be  found  that  some  one  of  these  birds 
has  not  visited.  Of  the  more  than  two  hundred 
and  fifty  species  in  the  order,  about  seventy  have 
been  found  in  North  America.  While  the  breed- 
ing home  of  many  species  is  in  the  far  North, — 


316  The  Heater-fowl  Family 

where  on  the  boggy  tundras  that  fringe  the  Arctic 
Coast,  about  the  little  pools  and  sluggish  streams, 
where  man  is  rare  and  insect  life  abundant,  they 
pass  the  short,  hot  Arctic  summer,  —  others  breed 
throughout  the  United  States,  their  sprightly  forms 
well  known  from  the  long  reaches  of  sandy  beach 
to  the  wood-encircled  lakes  high  in  the  mountains. 
When  in  the  middle  of  summer  the  vanguard 
of  the  returning  hosts  arrives  in  Maine,  a  gun  is 
fired  whose  echoes  reach  to  Florida,  the  reverbera- 
tion never  ceasing,  except  in  hours  of  darkness, 
until  in  late  spring  the  survivors  seek  again  their 
northern  homes.  Gentle,  naturally  friendly  and 
unsuspicious,  easy  to  decoy,  flying  in  compact 
flocks,  and  most  of  them  compelled  by  the  sources 
of  their  food-supply  to  inhabit  open  country,  there 
are  no  birds  classed  as  game  whose  destruction  is 
so  readily  obtained.  The  wonder  is  that  in  spite 
of  the  fusillade  that  greets  them  all  along  our 
coast,  so  many  yet  appear  in  spring  and  fall.  But 
this  cannot  last  much  longer.  The  golden  plover 
are  gone;  the  Eskimo  curlew  gone;  the  wood- 
cock and  Wilson's  snipe  appear  in  greatly  dimin- 
ished numbers,  and  even  the  "  peep  "  are  with  us 
in  but  a  small  percentage  of  their  former  multi- 
tudes. Unless  something  is  done,  and  done 
quickly,  to  protect  better  those  that  remain, 
shore-bird  shooting  on  the  Atlantic  Coast  will  be 
forever  a  thing  of  the  past. 


Shore-bird  Shooting  317 

In  the  West  the  conditions  are  not  yet  so  bad, 
as  larger  game  is  still  fairly  abundant ;  but  as  the 
swamps  are  drained,  the  plains  ploughed  for  crops 
or  fenced  for  pasture,  localities  suitable  for  the 
breeding  of  these  birds  are  rapidly  decreasing, 
and  species  abundant  only  a  few  years  ago  are 
now  hardly  common.  Some  few  varieties  may 
hold  their  own,  adjusting  themselves  to  circum- 
stances, but  to  many  this  is  impossible ;  and  with 
their  departure  our  country  will  lose  to  a  nature- 
lover  some  of  its  most  pleasing  ornaments. 

Shore-birds  are  usually  small,  the  largest  at- 
taining about  the  size  of  a  grouse.  The  habits  of 
most  of  them  are  expressed  in  their  name,  or  by 
"  mud  dwellers,"  a  literal  translation  of  Limicolae ; 
although  a  few  groups,  as  the  coursers  and  thick- 
knees,  inhabit  sandy,  barren  tracts  far  from  water, 
the  woodcocks  often  dry  and  woody  hillsides,  and 
the  pratincoles  catch  their  food  in  the  air  like  a 
swallow.  They  are  wading  birds,  feeding  as  a 
rule  on  insects,  crustaceans,  shellfish,  and  even 
small  fish,  which  they  catch  in  the  water  or  pick 
up  along  the  shore.  A  few  species  devour 
worms,  for  which  they  bore  in  the  mud,  and  those 
frequenting  the  uplands  live  largely  on  grass- 
hoppers, crickets,  and  berries  of  various  kinds. 
Fitted  for  such  a  life,  their  legs  are  usually  long, 
their  necks  long,  and,  except  in  one  group,  their 
hind  toe  is  small  and  sometimes  absent.  In  some 


318  The  Water-fowl  Family 

the  toes  are  partially  webbed,  but  very  often  they 
are  separated  to  the  base.  While  some  species 
are  sedentary,  many  perform  remarkable  migra- 
tions, travelling  in  a  single  season  from  the  Arctic 
Coast  to  Patagonia;  as  a  result  their  wings  are 
usually  long  and  pointed.  In  plumage  many 
shore-birds  are  very  beautiful,  the  sexes  usually 
similar;  often  the  winter  plumage  is  quite  differ- 
ent from  that  assumed  in  spring,  and  that  of  the 
young  different  from  either.  Frequently  the  males 
assist  the  females  in  incubation,  and  in  a  few  the 
male  performs  all  these  duties,  the  female  doing 
most  of  the  courting.  The  males  of  many  have 
a  pleasing  song  in  the  mating  season,  often  a 
song-flight,  while  the  courting  of  others  is  a  very 
interesting  spectacle.  One  remarkable  bird  is 
polygamous,  the  males  assuming  in  the  breeding 
season  a  large  and  party-colored  ruff  on  the  neck. 
Almost  all  of  the  order  breed  on  the  ground, 
forming  a  loose  nest  of  a  few  leaves  and  grasses, 
often  no  nest  at  all.  The  great  majority  lay  four 
eggs,  usually  pyriform  in  shape,  with  olive  or 
buffy  ground  color,  mottled  with  darker.  The 
young  of  all  are  covered  with  a  soft  down,  and 
are  able  to  run  and  pick  up  food  as  soon  as 
hatched. 

The  bills  of  the  shore-birds  vary  greatly,  being 
often  long  and  slender,  as  in  the  sandpipers,  some- 
times pointing  upward  as  in  the  avocets,  or  down- 


Shore-bird  Shooting  319 

ward  as  in  the  curlews;  it  may  be  broad  and 
flattened  at  the  point  as  in  the  spoon-billed 
sandpiper,  or  with  the  point  bent  sideways  at  an 
angle  as  in  the  crook-billed  plover  —  an  inhab- 
itant of  New  Zealand.  We  find  it  pigeon-like  in 
the  plovers,  rather  short  and  pointed  in  the 
turnstones,  long  and  wedge-shaped  in  the  oyster- 
catchers,  and  with  a  heavy  sheath  at  base  in  the 
sheath-bills;  but  always  its  shape  is  that  best 
fitted  to  obtain  the  food  on  which  the  bird 
subsists. 

Seven  families  are  found  in  North  America, 
the  phalaropes  (Phalaropodida\  avocets  and  stilts 
(Recurvirostridce\  snipes  and  sandpipers  (Scolo- 
pacidce\  plovers  (Charadriida),  surf -birds  and 
turnstones  (Aphrizida\  oyster-catchers  (Hcema- 
topodidce),  and  jacanas  (Jacanidce). 

THE  PHALAROPES 
(Phalaropodubz) 

The  phalarope  family  contains  only  three 
species  of  small  birds,  two  of  which  breed  in  the 
far  North  and  occur  throughout  most  of  the  north- 
ern hemisphere  in  migration,  while  the  third  is 
confined  in  the  breeding  season  to  the  interior 
of  North  America.  They  differ  from  the  other 
families  of  the  order  by  combining  a  bill,  slender 
and  as  long  as  the  head,  a  long  neck,  breast 
feathers  compact  and  duck-like,  legs  flattened 


320  The  Water-fowl  Family 

laterally  and  with  transverse  scales  in  front,  an- 
terior toes  with  lateral  membrane,  and  webbed 
hind  toes.  They  are  excellent  swimmers,  obtain- 
ing all  their  food  in  the  water,  and  two  species 
spending  most  of  the  year  on  the  ocean,  often  far 
from  land  and  sometimes  in  enormous  flocks. 
They  are  gentle  birds,  never  suspecting  danger, 
and  float  on  the  water  with  marvellous  grace,  as 
they  feed  on  the  minute  ocean  life,  or  the  oil 
sometimes  on  the  surface.  All  are  handsome 
birds,  but  the  females  have  much  more  brilliant 
plumage  than  the  males,  and  are  said  to  do  all 
the  courting;  when  that  is  finished,  leaving  the 
males  to  incubate  the  eggs  and  care  for  the 
young.  All  the  species  are  found  in  North 
America  and  have  been  separated  into  three 
genera:  Crymophilus,  Phalaropus,  and  Steganopus. 

RED    PHALAROPE 
(  Crymophilus  fulicarius) 

Adult  female  in  breeding  plumage  —  Top  of  head,  forehead,  sides  of 
bill,  and  chin,  black  ;  face  and  a  line  about  the  eye,  white  ;  neck 
and  entire  under  parts,  deep  cinnamon,  with  a  narrow,  dusky  line 
on  back  of  neck ;  back  and  scapulars,  black,  the  feathers  tipped 
with  buff;  the  primaries,  brownish  on  the  outer  web,  with  dusky 
tips,  grading  into  white  on  the  inner  web ;  secondaries,  brown, 
edged  with  white  ;  wing-coverts,  dark  gray,  the  middle  ones  with 
white  edges  ;  a  white  bar  across  the  wing ;  rump,  plumbeous  in 
centre,  white  on  the  sides  ;  upper  tail-coverts,  cinnamon  ;  middle 
tail  feathers,  black,  remainder,  slate,  the  two  outer  ones  with 
rufous  tips  ;  bill,  yellow,  with  a  black  tip ;  legs  and  feet,  yellow- 
ish olive ;  iris,  brown, 


Shore-bird  Shooting  321 

Adult  male  in  breeding  plumage  —  Resembles  the  female,  but  less 
brilliant ;  the  feathers  on  the  crown  and  back  of  neck,  marked 
with  yellowish  brown ;  white  on  the  sides  of  the  head  is  less 
defined ;  feathers  on  the  abdomen,  tipped  with  white. 

Adult  male  and  female  in  winter  plumage —  Back  of  head  and  about 
the  eyes,  with  a  line  on  the  nape  and  upper  part  of  back,  black ; 
rest  of  head,  neck,  and  under  parts,  white ;  back  and  scapulars, 
dark  gray  ;  wings  and  rump,  brownish  black  ;  wing-coverts  and 
secondaries  with  white  edges ;  tail,  brownish  black  with  pale 
outer  feathers  ;  bill,  dark ;  legs  and  feet,  grayish  olive. 

Young — Top  of  head  and  upper  parts,  dull  black,  the  feathers  with 
brownish  edges ;  wing-coverts,  rump,  and  upper  tail-coverts, 
lead  color;  middle  coverts,  edged  with  buff,  tail-coverts  with 
brown ;  head  (except  the  crown)  and  lower  parts,  white ;  throat, 
tinged  with  buff. 

Downy  young — Above,  bright  tawny  buff,  striped  with  black; 
crown,  bright  umber-brown,  bordered  with  black;  chin  and 
throat,  light  fulvous  buff,  changing  to  white  on  abdomen. 

Measurements  —  Length,  7.50  inches;  wing,  5.50  inches  ;  tail,  2.50 
inches  ;  tarsus,  .90  inch  ;  oilmen,  .85  inch. 

Eggs  —  Three  to  four  in  number,  greenish  drab,  marked  with  blotches 
of  sepia-brown,  measure  1.15  by  .85  inches. 

Habitat —  Northern  shores  of  both  continents.  In  North  America 
breeds  north  of  68°  on  the  coast  of  Greenland,  south  of  75°  in 
Cumberland,  in  Melville  Peninsula,  on  the  shores  of  the  Arctic 
Ocean  at  Franklin  Bay,  Point  Barrow,  Cape  Prince  of  Wales,  and 
south  to  the  Yukon  Delta,  Alaska,  and  Hudson  Bay.  Ranges  in 
winter  south  on  the  oceans  from  the  coast  of  South  Carolina  and 
California  to  Chili,  Argentina,  and  Hawaii,  and  casually  in  the 
migrations  in  the  interior  of  the  United  States  to  western  New 
York,  Ohio,  Indiana,  Illinois,  Michigan,  Idaho,  and  Wyoming. 
In  the  eastern  hemisphere  breeds  in  Iceland,  Spitzbergen,  and 
northern  Siberia,  and  has  been  found  in  winter  as  far  south  as 
the  coast  of  Morocco,  India,  China,  and  New  Zealand. 

The  red  phalarope  is  a  companion  of  the  whale, 
and  its  presence  in  large  numbers  at  sea  is  a  wel- 
come sight  to  whalers.  As  soon  as  the  whale 


322  The  Water-fowl  Family 

blows,  the  birds  congregate  in  the  vicinity,  feed- 
ing on  the  animalculae  and  minute  marine  animals 
brought  to  the  surface,  often  lighting  on  the 
whale  itself.  They  are  found  at  times  far  from 
land,  and  after  a  storm  have  been  noticed  hun- 
dreds of  miles  out  at  sea.  Off  the  coast  of  Green- 
land and  the  shores  and  islands  of  the  North 
Atlantic  the  bird  is  found  as  soon  as  the  ice 
breaks  up,  and  is  a  common  summer  resident. 
The  nest  is  on  the  ground,  a  mere  depression 
lined  with  grass  or  leaves,  and  is  near  the  water. 
Incubation  is  begun  early  in  July;  the  female 
reverses  the  custom  of  all  other  birds,  does  her 
own  courting,  while  the  more  insignificant  male 
attends  to  most  of  the  incubation  affairs  and 
does  as  he  is  bid.  When  the  young  are  fledged 
the  birds  soon  resort  to  the  open  water,  although 
at  times  frequenting  the  ponds  and  bays  near  the 
shore.  The  adult  female  of  this  species,  in  the  full 
breeding  plumage,  is  a  beautiful  bird  and  a  fitting 
ornament  to  nature's  wilderness  of  sea  and  ice. 
Early  in  August  the  adult  plumage  is  changed  to 
gray  and  the  birds  start  on  the  migration  south. 
After  leaving  their  summer  resorts  they  seem  to 
prefer  the  sea,  well  offshore,  braving  heavy  storms 
of  fall,  in  winter  passing  south  as  far  as  the  West 
Indies. 

There  are  instances  of  the  red  phalarope  com- 
ing on  board  ships,  and  in  my  collection  is  a  fine 


Shore-bird  Shooting  323 

specimen,  presented  to  me  by  Mr.  Downs  of 
Halifax,  which  was  brought  to  him  alive  by  a 
sailor,  wrecked  off  Sable  Island,  who  secured  it 
in  this  way.  The  birds  are  sociable,  gathering 
in  large  flocks,  flying  low  and  gracefully  just  over 
the  waves'  crest,  and  have  no  fear  of  man,  living 
as  they  do  in  places  he  seldom  disturbs. 

In  August  they  are  found  in  some  numbers  off 
the  coast  of  Maine,  frequenting  the  tide-rips  near 
Grand  Manan,  in  company  with  the  northern 
phalarope.  Off  Cape  Cod  this  bird  is  not  infre- 
quently taken  in  the  spring,  after  heavy  weather. 
Enormous  flocks  are  seen  occasionally  at  great 
distances  from  shore  off  the  coasts  of  North  Caro- 
lina, Massachusetts,  and  Labrador,  the  Aleutian 
Islands,  and  Lower  California  in  the  spring  and 
fall.  The  most  maritime  of  the  phalaropes,  it 
seldom  voluntarily  approaches  land  except  in  the 
breeding  season,  and  even  then  keeps  in  the  neigh- 
borhood of  salt  water.  This  species  is  the  most 
graceful  of  all  birds  on  the  water,  floating  like 
down,  and  in  powers  of  flight  far  surpasses  the 
other  phalaropes.  It  is  known  as  bow-head  bird, 
whale-bird,  sea-goose,  coot-footed  tringa. 

NORTHERN    PHALAROPE 

(Phalaropus  lobatus) 

Adult  female  in  breeding  plumage  —  Upper  parts,  head,  neck  pos- 
teriorly, dark  lead  color,  with  feathers  on  back  and  scapulars 
tipped  with  rusty ;  a  white  line  above  and  below  the  eye ;  neck 


324  The  Water-fowl  Family 

in  front  and  laterally  with  the  upper  part  of  breast,  bright  rufous, 
bordered  beneath  by  a  band  of  plumbeous ;  throat  and  under 
parts,  white ;  flanks,  white,  streaked  with  dusky ;  wings,  blackish 
brown,  with  a  white  bar ;  centre  of  rump,  black  ;  sides,  white  ; 
tail,  blackish  brown. 

Adult  male  in  breeding  plumage  —  Similar,  but  the  markings  are 
more  dull  and  indistinct ;  the  head  is  sooty,  slightly  marked 
with  light  brown ;  the  back  is  more  marked  with  buff;  the 
rufous  of  neck  and  breast  are  less  clearly  denned ;  the  bird 
averages  smaller. 

Adult  male  and  female  in  winter  plumage  —  Forehead,  superciliary 
stripe,  cheeks,  throat,  and  under  parts,  white ;  a  black  spot  in 
front  of  the  eye ;  top  of  head,  gray,  with  a  grayish  stripe  under 
the  eye  ;  neck  laterally,  white,  tinged  with  buff;  back  and  wings, 
slate,  edged  with  white ;  rump  and  tail,  dark  brown,  the  central 
feathers  bordered  with  light  gray. 

Young —  Top  of  head,  dusky  ;  back  and  scapulars,  blackish,  tinged 
with  buff;  upper  tail-coverts  and  tail,  dark  brown,  edged  with 
chestnut ;  forehead,  front  of  the  eye,  line  above  the  eye.  and 
under  parts,  white ;  sides  of  breast,  shaded  with  brown ;  iris, 
brown ;  bill,  black  ;  legs  and  feet,  plumbeous. 

Downy  young —  Above,  bright  tawny,  marked  on  crown,  auriculars, 
and  rump  with  black;  spot  of  brown  on  crown;  throat  and 
sides  of  head,  pale  tawny ;  lower  parts,  white. 

Measurements — Length,  7  inches;  wing,  4  inches;  tail,  2  inches; 
tarsus,  .75  inch. 

Eggs  —  Four  in  number;  ground  color,  greenish  drab  marked  with 
fine,  numerous  spots  of  sepia-brown,  measure  i.io  by  .80  inches. 

Habitat  —  Arctic  regions  of  both  hemispheres.  In  North  America 
it  breeds  in  southern  Greenland  and  in  Cumberland  up  to  73° 
north  latitude,  Labrador,  the  Barren  Grounds,  Hudson  Bay, 
Alaska,  the  Aleutians,  and  the  islands  in  Bering  Sea.  In  winter 
keeps  away  from  the  shore  on  the  Atlantic  and  Pacific  oceans, 
and  has  been  taken  as  far  south  as  Nicaragua  and  Peru,  and  in 
Bermuda  and  Hawaii ;  but  in  the  United  States,  excepting 
southern  California,  few  if  any  occur  from  November  I  to  April 
30.  Occurs  throughout  the  United  States  in  migration,  except 
possibly  Georgia  and  the  states  bordering  on  the  Gulf  of 
Mexico.  In  the  Old  World  breeds  in  Iceland,  the  islands 


Shore-bird  Shooting  325 

north  and  west  of  Scotland,  and  on  the  continent  from  the 
northern  limit  of  forest  north  to  the  Arctic  Ocean.  Winters  on 
the  coasts  of  Europe,  rarely  in  the  Mediterranean,  in  Persia, 
India,  China,  and  the  Malay  Archipelago. 

Less  maritime  than  the  red  phalarope,  this 
species  migrates  regularly,  usually  in  small  num- 
bers through  the  interior  of  the  United  States, 
but  is  only  found  in  very  large  flocks  on  the 
ocean,  where,  in  May  and  again  in  August,  great 
numbers  have  been  met  with  off  New  England, 
Labrador,  the  Aleutian  Islands,  and  California. 
In  the  breeding  season  this  bird  frequents  bodies 
of  fresh  water,  returning  to  the  coast  after  the 
young  are  fledged. 

The  boreal  regions  of  both  continents  are  the 
breeding-grounds,  but  as  soon  as  its  young  are 
bred  it  resorts  to  warmer  climes.  All  summer 
long  the  northern  phalarope  is  found  in  the  tide- 
rips  about  Grand  Manan ;  the  flocks  are  very 
gentle  and  usually  allow  a  boat  to  approach  close 
to  them,  taking  wing  quickly  and  gracefully,  keep- 
ing close  to  the  surface  of  the  waves,  and  uttering 
their  sharp,  metallic  tweet ;  they  settle  on  some 
floating  debris  or  seaweed,  perhaps  alighting  in 
the  rough  water.  The  birds  feed  on  little  shrimps 
and  animalculae,  seldom  coming  on  to  the  shore 
except  in  stormy  weather.  Though  flocks  of  phala- 
rope abound  in  this  location  through  the  sum- 
mer, the  nest  has  not  been  found,  and  the  birds 


326  The  Water-fowl  Family 

evidently  do  not  breed  in  Maine.  In  the  far 
North  they  spread  out  over  the  smaller  bodies  of 
water,  and  are  often  met  with  far  inland.  The 
nests  are  a  mere  depression  on  the  ground  lined 
with  leaves  or  grasses,  in  some  localities  placed 
in  tussocks.  In  Shetland  this  species  lays  its 
eggs  in  small  colonies  on  a  few  straws  in  a  drier 
portion  of  the  marsh  ;  the  birds  themselves,  except 
when  incubating,  frequenting  other  parts  of  the 
same  swampy  tract. 

The  birds  are  a  devoted  pair,  following  each 
other  about  and  keeping  close  to  the  nest.  The 
male  is  the  smaller  and  more  insignificant  bird, 
performing  most  of  the  incubation  duties.  On 
the  surface  of  the  water  the  phalarope  floats 
lightly,  and  has  much  the  appearance  of  a  minia- 
ture duck.  Late  in  July  the  young  are  fledged, 
and  the  old  birds  begin  to  change  the  rich  plu- 
mage of  the  spring  for  one  of  gray  and  white. 

They  migrate  south  along  the  coast,  keeping 
to  the  open  water,  extending  their  course  well 
into  the  tropics. 

The  northern  phalarope  wanders  irregularly  to 
most  portions  of  temperate  Europe  and  Asia. 
In  North  America  it  has  occurred  frequently 
inland,  particularly  after  heavy  storms,  and  is 
taken  on  our  Great  Lakes  and  rivers. 

On  the  Pacific  Coast  it  is  common  in  Alaska, 
but  less  so  farther  south.  The  bird  has  been 


Shore-bird  Shooting  327 

found  in  the  Bermudas,  Guatemala,  and  the 
Isthmus  of  Tehuantepec.  In  Connecticut,  Long 
Island,  and  New  Jersey  the  northern  phalarope 
is  rare. 

It  is  known  also  as  sea-goose  and  whale-bird, 
although  the  latter  name  should  be  applied  more 
properly  to  the  red  phalarope. 

WILSON'S  PHALAROPE 

(Steganopus  tricolor) 

Adult  female  in  breeding  plumage — Forehead  and  top  of  head, 
pearl-gray  ;  occiput  and  nape,  white ;  a  stripe  on  each  side  of  the 
head,  passing  down  the  side  of  the  neck,  black,  changing  on  the 
lower  part  of  the  neck  into  rich  chestnut,  and  this  is  continued 
as  a  narrow  stripe  to  the  scapulars  ;  short  stripe  above  the  lores 
and  eyes,  and  throat,  pure  white  ;  jugulum,  buffy  cinnamon,  fad- 
ing into  the  creamy  buff  of  the  breast ;  remaining  lower  parts, 
white ;  wings,  grayish  brown,  with  paler  coverts  ;  rump,  grayish 
brown  ;  upper  tail-coverts,  white  ;  iris,  brown  ;  bill,  legs,  and  feet, 
black. 

Measurements —  Length,  9.75  inches  ;  wing,  5.25  inches  ;  tarsus,  1.30 
inches;  oilmen,  1.30  inches. 

Adult  male  in  breeding  plumage  —  Of  smaller  size  and  much  less 
strikingly  marked ;  top  of  head,  brown,  the  feathers  tipped  with 
gray ;  a  broad  mark  over  the  eye,  white ;  sides  of  neck,  dull 
brown ;  back  and  wings,  dusky,  the  feathers  tipped  with  pale 
brown ;  rump  and  tail,  brownish  black,  margined  with  white ; 
primaries,  blackish  brown ;  neck  in  front,  pale  brown ;  throat 
and  under  parts,  white. 

Measurements  —  Length,  8.50  inches;  wing,  4.75  inches;  culmen, 
1.25  inches;  tarsus,  1.25  inches. 

Adult  male  and  female  in  winter  plumage  —  Upper  parts,  ash- 
gray  ;  rest  of  plumage,  white,  tinged  with  gray. 

Young —  Upper  parts,  blackish,  feathers  edged  with  buff ;  upper  tail- 
coverts,  superciliaries,  and  under  parts,  white,  with  a  rusty  tinge ; 
tail,  gray,  edged  and  marked  with  white. 


328  The  Water-fowl  Family 

Downy  young  —  Above,  bright  tawny,  marked  on  crown,  hind  neck, 
rump,  flanks,  and  tail  with  black ;  below,  pale  tawny,  becoming 
white  on  abdomen. 

Eggs  —  Four  in  number ;  color,  drab,  spotted  with  bistre ;  measure 
1.37  by  .94  inches. 

Habitat — Breeds  in  the  interior  of  North  America,  from  Illinois, 
Indiana,  Iowa,  Kansas,  Colorado,  Utah,  Nevada,  eastern  Cali- 
fornia, and  probably  Mexico,  north  to  Assiniboia,  Alberta,  and 
Manitoba,  and  possibly  Hudson  Bay.  Passes  south  through 
Central  America,  wintering  from  Mexico  to  Brazil,  Patagonia, 
Chili,  and  the  Falkland  Islands.  Has  been  recorded  in  migra- 
tions from  Quebec,  from  Maine  to  New  Jersey  on  the  Atlantic 
Coast,  and  British  Columbia  to  Lower  California  on  the 
Pacific. 

A  bird  of  the  Western  states,  most  common  on 
the  prairie  and  the  alkali  lakes  of  the  highlands, 
going  as  far  north  as  the  plains  of  the  Saskatche- 
wan. It  is  found  through  the  summer  in  Illinois, 
Wisconsin,  and  Minnesota,  more  abundantly  in 
Dakota  and  Montana  and  in  districts  close  to  the 
Rocky  Mountains.  In  Nevada  and  Utah  and 
Salt  Lake  Valley  this  bird  is  very  abundant,  both 
spring  and  fall,  while  many  remain  to  breed. 

In  northern  Mexico  I  saw  the  Wilson's  phala- 
rope  in  late  May;  nearly  every  small  pool  had  its 
pair.  The  female  in  its  breeding  dress  is  a  beau- 
tiful bird,  and  like  the  other  members  of  this 
group  is  larger  and  handsomer  than  the  male. 

This  variety  undoubtedly  breeds  through  a 
large  part  of  its  range.  The  nest  is  often  placed 
in  a  tussock  of  grass  near  the  water,  the  male  in- 
cubating the  eggs,  both  birds  showing  the  utmost 


Shore-bird  Shooting  329 

concern  if  the  nest  is  approached.  When  hatched 
the  young  are  escorted  to  the  water  and  they  feed 
at  its  edge,  often  drifting  out  on  to  the  surface  of 
the  pond,  the  very  picture  of  grace  and  ease. 

Generally  the  Wilson's  phalarope  is  seen  in 
small  flocks  of  six  or  more,  but  occasionally  in  the 
fall  it  gathers  in  large  numbers.  Through  July 
into  August  few  of  the  prairie  sloughs  are  with- 
out their  little  flock  of  these  birds.  As  a  rule 
they  give  no  heed  to  man's  presence,  if  approached 
floating  lightly  away.  In  August  they  begin  to 
work  their  way  south  through  the  plains  into 
Mexico  and  northern  South  America,  even  reach- 
ing the  pampas  of  Brazil  and  Patagonia. 

In  eastern  United  States  and  on  the  Atlantic 
Coast  the  bird  is  exceedingly  rare.  There  are  a 
few  New  England  instances:  one  is  recorded  of 
a  male  taken  by  Mr.  George  O.  Welch  at  Nahant, 
May,  1874,  and  specimens  were  shot  by  Mr. 
William  Brewster  at  Rye  Beach  in  1872. 


CHAPTER  IX 

SHORE-BIRD   SHOOTING  (CONTINUED) 

THE  AVOCETS  AND  STILTS 
(Rccurufrostridci) 

ONE  avocet  and  one  stilt  are  found  in  North 
America ;  both  are  large  birds.  The  former  has 
the  bill  bent  strongly  upward  toward  the  tip,  mod- 
erately long  legs,  the  anterior  toes  fully  webbed, 
and  a  hind  toe ;  the  latter  has  a  straight  bill,  ex- 
ceedingly long  and  slender  legs,  very  little  web- 
bing between  the  anterior  toes,  and  no  hind  toe. 
Both  agree  in  having  very  long  and  slender  bills, 
the  legs  covered  in  front  with  hexagonal  plates, 
and  the  anterior  toes  somewhat  connected  by 
membrane. 

The  family  to  which  these  birds  belong  is  small, 
containing  only  about  a  dozen  species,  which  in- 
habit chiefly  the  temperate  zones  of  the  world, 
Our  species  frequent  the  alkaline  lakes  of  the 
western  interior  and  are  birds  of  much  beauty. 
They  often  obtain  their  food  in  fairly  deep  water 
in  which  their  long  and  slender  legs  enable  them 
to  wade,  but  they  swim  well  if  necessary,  as  do 
most  of  the  shore-birds.  They  breed  near  the 

330 


Shore-bird  Shooting  331 

shores  of  the  lakes  they  frequent ;  but  the  female, 
as  in  the  remaining  families  of  the  order,  does  at 
least  her  share  of  the  incubation. 


AMERICAN    AVOCET 

(Recurvirostra  americand) 

Adult  male  and  female  in  breeding  plumage  —  Head,  neck,  and 
breast,  cinnamon,  becoming  white  about  the  bill  and  fading 
below  into  the  white  of  the  under  parts  ;  wings,  brownish,  black 
on  inner  scapulars  and  lesser  coverts ;  terminal  half  of  greater 
coverts  and  inner  secondaries,  white ;  tail,  gray ;  remainder  of 
plumage,  white  ;  iris,  red  ;  legs  and  feet,  pale  gray ;  bill,  black. 

Adult  male  and  female  in  winter  plumage  —  Similar  to  the  breed- 
ing plumage,  but  head,  neck,  and  breast  are  white  instead  of 
cinnamon. 

Young — Resembles  the  winter  plumage,  but  the  primaries  are 
tipped  with  white ;  scapulars  and  back,  mottled  with  buff;  neck 
posteriorly  tinged  with  rufous. 

Measurements — Length,  18  inches;  wing,  9  inches;  oilmen,  3.50 
inches;  tarsus,  3.75  inches. 

Eggs — Four  in  number;  light  drab,  with  blotches  of  sepia-brown; 
oboval ;  measure  1.85  by  1.30  inches. 

Habitat  —  Breeds  in  the  interior  of  North  America  from  western 
Kansas,  New  Mexico,  Colorado,  Utah,  Nevada,  and  California, 
north  to  Idaho,  Saskatchewan,  Manitoba,  North  Dakota,  and 
rarely  Great  Slave  Lake.  Winters  from  the  coast  of  Louisiana, 
Texas,  and  southern  California  south  to  Central  America  and 
the  West  Indies.  Not  common  east  of  the  Mississippi  River, 
but  has  been  taken  from  Florida  to  New  Brunswick. 

The  avocet  is  a  westerner,  frequenting  the  plains 
from  as  far  north  as  Great  Slave  Lake,  through 
the  table-lands  into  Mexico.  In  Chihuahua,  May, 
1901,  we  found  these  birds  in  large  flocks,  often 
of  several  hundred  individuals.  Dabbling  along 


332  The  Water-fowl  Family 

the  shores  of  some  mesa  lake,  they  would  rise  in 
a  cloud  of  black  and  white  and  settle  on  the  flats 
at  the  water's  edge,  keeping  just  out  of  range,  if 
unmolested  feeding ;  some  birds  waded  out  the  full 
length  of  their  legs,  while  others  more  suspicious 
kept  guard.  Nearly  all  of  them  in  full  spring 
plumage,  this  congregation  presented  a  splendid 
sight.  When  a  flock  was  about  to  join  those  on 
the  ground  we  heard  their  sharp,  clicklike  cries. 
In  another  instance,  on  a  small  spring  hole  near 
one  of  the  ranches,  I  saw  a  single  avocet  among  a 
large  number  of  ducks.  The  bird  was  swimming 
out  in  the  centre,  in  the  midst  of  the  others,  when 
they  rose,  keeping  in  the  flock.  It  had  been  in 
the  vicinity  a  week. 

In  Colorado  and  Utah  and  about  the  Great 
Salt  Lake  the  avocet  is  common  both  in  the 
spring  and  fall  on  the  migrations,  and  as  a  sum- 
mer resident.  If  unmolested,  the  bird  is  gentle 
and  tame,  and  can  be  readily  approached.  It  is 
found  along  the  borders  of  the  larger  lakes, 
feeding  on  the  insects  and  larvae  abounding  in 
the  water  near  the  shore.  The  alkali  ponds  of 
the  Rocky  Mountain  states  are  favorite  resorts, 
and  the  bird  is  common  in  southeastern  Oregon 
and  Montana,  passing  through  Manitoba. 

The  avocet  breeds  through  a  large  part  of  its 
range,  selecting  the  marshes  of  the  islands  in  wild 
desert  regions,  placing  the  nest  in  the  tallest  grass, 


Shore-bird  Shooting  333 

and  constructing  it  of  the  same  material.  If  dis- 
turbed on  their  nesting-grounds,  the  birds  exhibit 
the  greatest  concern,  feigning  wounded  and  en- 
deavoring to  distract  the  attention  of  the  intruder, 
or  circling  about  on  graceful  wing,  and  uttering  a 
peculiar  sharp  cry  as  they  plunge  through  the  air 
almost  at  him.  The  little  chicks  take  readily  to 
the  water  and  are  as  much  at  home  as  ducklings, 
swimming  and  diving  if  occasion  require. 

On  the  Atlantic  Coast  the  bird  is  rare,  and 
more  so  now  than  formerly.  Instances  of  its 
capture  are  recorded  from  Florida  to  the  Bay  of 
Fundy,  where  one  was  taken  at  Point  Lepreaux. 
In  New  Jersey  they  were  formerly  taken,  and  a 
few  even  bred  near  Egg  Harbor.  Giraud  speaks 
of  its  occasional  occurrence  on  Long  Island.  In 
New  England  there  are  but  few  instances  of  its 
capture.  Dr.  Merriam  speaks  of  a  specimen 
taken  near  Saybrook  from  an  old  seine  laid  out 
to  dry.  Among  other  New  England  records  are: 
Cape  Elizabeth,  Maine,  November  5,  1878,  and 
Natick,  Massachusetts. 

This  bird  is  known  as  blue  stocking  and  white 
snipe.  The  flesh  is  of  a  bluish  color  and  hardly 
palatable. 

BLACK-NECKED    STILT 
(Himanfopus  mexicanus) 

Adult  male  in  breeding  plumage  —  Forehead,  a  spot  behind  the  eye, 
lores,  entire  under  parts,  rump,  and  upper  tail-coverts,  white ; 
rest  of  the  head,  neck  posteriorly,  back,  scapulars,  and  wings, 


334  The  Water-fowl  Family 

glossy  black,  with  a  greenish  reflection ;  tail,  gray ;  bill,  black ; 
iris,  red  ;  legs  and  feet,  lake-red. 

Adult  female  in  breeding  plumage  —  Top  of  head,  back,  and  scapu- 
lars, brownish  slate,  otherwise  similar  to  the  male ;  iris,  reddish 
brown. 

Young —  Similar  to  the  female,  but  the  feathers  of  the  back,  scapu- 
lars, and  tertials,  bordered  with  buff;  black  on  the  head  and 
neck  finely  mottled  with  buff. 

Downy  young — Above,  light  fulvous  gray,  mottled  with  dusky,  and 
marked  with  black  on  crown,  back  and  rump;  lower  parts, 
fulvous  white. 

Measurements  —  Length,  15  inches;  wing,  9  inches;  oilmen,  2.50 
inches  ;  tarsus,  4  inches. 

Eggs — Four  in  number ;  color,  dark  drab  spotted  with  bistre  ;  measure 
1.73  by  i. 20  inches. 

Habitat  —  Breeds  in  Florida,  the  Bahamas,  and  probably  the  West 
Indies,  and  from  northern  California,  Oregon,  Nevada,  Utah, 
Colorado,  Kansas,  and  probably  Idaho,  south  to  Louisiana, 
Texas,  and  Mexico.  Winters  from  the  West  Indies,  Louisiana, 
Texas,  and  Lower  California,  south  to  northern  Brazil,  Peru, 
and  the  Galapagos.  Rare  east  of  the  Mississippi  north  of 
Florida,  but  has  been  recorded  north  to  Massachusetts  and  New 
Brunswick,  and  in  Bermuda. 

This  graceful  wader  is  common  in  the  south- 
western United  States  and  from  thence  south 
through  Mexico  and  Central  America.  In  May, 
1901,  I  met  with  the  black-necked  stilt  near  Tam- 
pico.  They  were  in  small  flocks  of  from  three  to 
six  individuals,  and  frequented  the  marshes  along 
the  lagoons  where  the  grass  was  short,  keeping 
near  the  edge  of  the  water  and  showing  no  fear 
of  the  dugout  as  it  was  pushed  quietly  by.  The 
birds  stopped  feeding  and  watched  the  craft,  tilt- 
ing their  bodies  exactly  after  the  manner  of  the 


Shore-bird  Shooting  335 

yellowleg,  finally  taking  wing  and  uttering  a 
sharp,  clicklike  note.  The  flight  was  graceful, 
and  in  a  line ;  the  bright  black  and  white  of  their 
plumage  and  their  long  red  legs  marked  them 
afar.  We  saw  repeatedly  these  small  flocks, 
always  a  pleasing  sight.  Later  in  May  they  were 
common  in  Chihuahua  on  the  larger  lakes,  fre- 
quenting the  same  places  as  the  avocets,  but  as  far 
as  I  could  see  keeping  their  own  company.  The 
stilt  feeds  on  insects  and  larvae,  often  wading  into 
the  water  for  its  food.  All  of  the  few  specimens 
shot  showed  evidence  of  approaching  incubation. 

This  bird  is  common  in  the  region  of  the  Great 
Salt  Lake  on  its  migrations  and  as  a  summer 
resident,  less  abundant  in  southeastern  Oregon. 
Marshes  about  the  barren  alkali  lakes  in  this 
vicinity  are  its  breeding-grounds.  The  nest  is 
bulky,  constructed  of  grass,  and  placed  often  in 
some  wet  spot,  but  built  high  enough  up  to  keep 
the  eggs  dry.  When  disturbed  under  these  cir- 
cumstances they  show  the  greatest  anxiety,  flying 
about  close  by,  uttering  pitiful  cries  of  distress. 

The  stilt  is  found  along  the  shores  of  the  Gulf 
states  where  it  breeds,  and  was  formerly  observed 
by  Wilson  in  some  numbers  on  the  coast  of  New 
Jersey;  but  now  is  a  rare  straggler  here,  and  is 
still  rarer  on  Long  Island  and  in  New  England. 
On  the  Pacific  Coast  the  bird  is  uncommon.  It  is 
also  known  as  white  snipe,  tilt,  long  shanks,  lawyer. 


CHAPTER  X 

SHORE-BIRD   SHOOTING   (CONTINUED) 

WOODCOCKS,  SNIPES,  AND  SANDPIPERS 

(Scolopacida) 

THIS  is  the  largest  family  of  the  shore-birds,  and 
to  it  belong  most  of  the  birds  we  see  on  the  banks 
of  our  lakes  and  rivers,  in  our  marshes,  or  on  the 
flats  left  bare  by  the  retreating  tide.  In  the  neigh- 
borhood of  one  hundred  species  are  known,  dis- 
tributed in  the  migrations  throughout  the  world, 
but  the  great  majority  breeding  in  the  northern 
hemisphere  and  many  within  the  Arctic  circle. 
About  forty-five  species  occur  in  North  America 
and  form  the  flocks  that  wheel,  now  dark,  now 
bright  in  the  sunlight,  as  in  their  migrations  they 
pass  along  our  coast,  or  fly  from  one  feeding- 
ground  to  another.  Most  of  the  shore-birds  in- 
teresting to  sportsmen  are  found  in  this  group, 
for  to  it  belong  the  woodcock,  snipe,  yellowlegs, 
godwit,  and  curlew.  Many  of  them  occur  on  our 
coasts  or  about  the  marshes  of  the  interior  in 
large  flocks  during  their  migrations,  and  their 
flesh  is  tender  and  sweet. 

336 


Shore-bird  Shooting  337 

They  are  rather  small  birds  as  a  rule,  having 
usually  long  and  slender  bills  with  the  tip  soft 
and  fleshy.  Several  of  the  woodcocks,  snipe,  god- 
wit,  and  sandpipers  have  the  power  of  opening  the 
tip  of  the  bill  while  the  base  is  closed.  These 
birds  bore  in  the  soft  mud  for  their  food,  and  this 
faculty  is  doubtless  of  great  service  in  enabling 
them  to  grasp  a  worm  or  similar  object  that  the 
sensitive  tip  of  the  bill  may  touch.  Others  feed 
on  small  fish,  insects,  and  minute  life  of  various 
kinds  that  abounds  at  the  water's  edge.  All  are 
graceful  birds  of  pleasing  plumage,  but  few  are 
brilliantly  colored,  and  there  is  little  difference 
in  the  sexes.  They  are  swift  on  the  wing,  and 
many,  even  of  the  smaller  species,  travel  remark- 
able distances  during  the  year,  breeding  within 
the  Arctic  circle  and  wintering  in  Patagonia. 

In  most  of  this  group  the  neck  is  rather  long 
and  the  nostrils  are  narrow,  opening  in  a  groove 
on  the  side  of  the  bill,  which  is  also  true  of  the 
phalaropes,  stilts,  and  avocets.  Their  legs  are 
covered  with  transverse  scales  in  front,  but  their 
anterior  toes  are  not  bordered  with  a  broad 
web,  although  a  slight  web  is  present  in  some 
species  at  the  base.  The  hind  toe  is  usually 
present.  While  agreeing  in  these  respects,  they 
differ  in  so  many  others  that  the  species  found  in 
North  America  have  been  divided  into  nineteen 
genera. 

z 


338  The  Water-fowl  Family 


EUROPEAN    WOODCOCK 

(Scolopax  rusticola) 

Male  and  female  in  breeding  plumage  —  Upper  parts,  rufous  mottled 
with  gray,  buff,  and  black ;  forehead,  fore  part  of  crown,  chin, 
neck,  and  lower  parts,  buff-gray ;  crown  and  nape,  crossed  by 
four  black  patches  separated  by  buffy  lines ;  black  line  from  bill 
to  eye  and  another  across  ear-coverts ;  chin  and  throat,  spotted 
with  dusky,  rest  of  lower  parts  barred  with  the  same;  wing- 
coverts  and  tertials,  rufous,  barred  with  grayish  brown,  and  the 
latter  blotched  with  black  and  tipped  with  light  gray ;  primaries 
and  secondaries,  brown,  barred  on  outer  web  and  notched  on 
inner  web  with  gray  and  rufous ;  rump  and  upper  tail-coverts, 
rufous,  faintly  barred  with  gray  and  buffy ;  tail,  black,  feathers 
notched  with  rufous  on  outer  webs  and  tipped  with  gray  above, 
silvery  white  below  ;  bill,  dusky  brown,  livid  at  base  of  mandible  ; 
feet  and  legs,  grayish  ;  iris,  brown. 

Winter  plumage  of  adults  —  The  same. 

Young  —  Similar  but  darker ;  ashy  spots  on  upper  parts  largely 
replaced  by  buff;  rump  and  upper  tail-coverts  more  conspicu- 
ously barred  ;  outer  webs  of  tail  feathers  less  barred  with  rufous, 
gray  tips  margined  proximally  with  buff. 

Downy  young — Rusty  ochraceous  ;  upper  parts  marked  with  spots 
of  deep  rusty,  and  a  band  of  same  on  jugulum ;  blackish  stripe 
from  bill  to  eye. 

Measurements  —  Length,  14  inches;  wing,  7.35  inches;  tail,  3.25 
inches;  culmen,  3  inches;  tarsus,  1.50  inches. 

Eggs  —  Four ;  rounded  oval ;  buff,  spotted  with  pale  reddish  brown 
and  gray;  measure  1.75  by  1.35  inches. 

Habitat  —  Breeds  in  Great  Britain,  Scandinavia,  Russia,  Mongolia, 
and  Siberia,  north  to  the  Arctic  circle ;  in  the  Japanese  moun- 
tains, Himalayas,  Caucasus,  Carpathians,  and  Alps,  and  in  the 
Azores,  Canary,  and  Madeira  islands.  Winters  in  Great 
Britain,  southern  Europe,  northern  Africa,  east  to  India,  China, 
and  Formosa.  Occurs  in  the  Faroe  Islands,  and  in  North 
America  has  been  reported  from  Newfoundland,  Quebec,  Rhode 
Island  (?),  New  Jersey,  Pennsylvania,  and  Virginia. 


Shore-bird  Shooting  339 

The  habits  of  this  bird  are  much  like  those  of 
our  own  species.  In  England  the  fall  "  flight " 
occurs  in  October,  and  they  return  to  their  breed- 
ing haunts  in  March,  laying  their  eggs  in  some 
retired  spot  in  the  woods  in  early  April.  Like 
our  bird  the  female  will  remove  her  young  if 
danger  threatens,  and  has  been  watched  flying 
with  one  of  them  clasped  between  her  thighs. 

The  outbreak  of  a  hard  northeaster,  after  a  few 
days  of  light  southerly  breeze,  when  the  birds  are 
moving  south  in  autumn,  often  causes  great  num- 
bers to  stop  on  the  small  island  of  Heligoland, 
which  is  less  than  one  mile  square.  Herr  Gatke 
tells  us  that  over  noo  woodcock  were  shot  or 
netted  there,  under  such  conditions,  on  October  21, 
1823.  Many  are  snared  there  annually  in  large 
nets  made  for  this  purpose,  which  measure  36  to 
72  feet  in  length  and  about  24  feet  in  height,  the 
meshes  being  about  2 \  inches  in  diameter,  so  that 
the  woodcock  can  easily  get  its  head  and  neck 
through.  These  nets  are  set  on  poles,  preferably 
between  buildings  or  high  bushes,  and  so  strung 
that  they  can  be  dropped  as  soon  as  the  bird  be- 
comes entangled.  The  woodcock's  love  of  narrow 
passages  leads  it  to  the  net,  the  gray  of  which  in 
the  early  morning  and  the  evening  hours  it  does 
not  notice  as  it  passes  across  the  island  in  migra- 
tion, and  sometimes  even  in  bright  daylight  it  con- 
tinues its  course  until  the  meshes  are  around  it. 


340  The  Water-fowl  Family 

AMERICAN    WOODCOCK1 
(Philohela  minor) 

Male  and  female  in  breeding  plumage —  Head,  ashy  rufous,  marked 
with  dark  line  on  forehead  from  oilmen,  another  from  bill  to 
eye,  and  on  ear-coverts ;  occiput,  black,  crossed  by  three  pale 
rufous  lines;  upper  parts  generally,  pale  rufous,  barred  with 
black  and  blotched  with  same  toward  ends  of  scapulars,  inter- 
scapulars,  and  tertiaries,  and  many  feathers  tipped  or  barred 
with  lavender-ash ;  primaries  and  secondaries,  brown,  the  first 
three  short  and  narrow,  tipped  with  pale  rufous,  and  inner  sec- 
ondaries vermiculated  with  the  same  ;  centre  of  rump  and  upper 
tail-coverts,  black,  vermiculated  with  rufous  ;  sides  of  both,  pale 
rufous,  irregularly  barred  with  black ;  tail,  black,  tipped  above 
with  gray,  below  with  whitish,  and  spotted  with  rufous  on  outer 
webs ;  below,  rufous,  brighter  on  sides  and  flanks,  washed  with 
gray  on  breast,  becoming  buffy  on  chin  and  lower  abdomen, 
and  spotted  with  black  on  lower  tail-coverts ;  bill,  brown, 
yellowish  at  base  of  mandible,  and  tipped  with  black ;  feet  and 
legs,  pale  reddish  ;  iris,  brown. 

Winter  plumage  and  young —  Similar. 

Downy  young — Buff;  crown  and  line  from  bill  through  eye,  deep 
chestnut ;  rest  of  upper  parts  spotted  with  chestnut. 

Measurements  —  Length,  n  inches;  wing,  5.25  inches;  tail,  2.25 
inches;  culmen,  2.75  inches;  tarsus,  1.25  inches. 

Eggs  —  Four;  rounded  oval;  buff,  spotted  with  brown;  measure  1.50 
by  1.20  inches. 

Habitat  —  Breeds  from  northern  Florida,  Georgia,  Mississippi,  and 
Louisiana,  north  to  Nova  Scotia,  the  Gulf  of  St.  Lawrence, 
Quebec,  Ontario,  and  eastern  Manitoba,  and  west  to  the  Red 
River  Valley,  eastern  South  Dakota,  Nebraska,  Kansas,  and 
eastern  Colorado.  Winters  from  New  Jersey,  southern  Ohio, 
Indiana,  Illinois,  and  Missouri,  south  to  the  Gulf  Coast  and  west 
to  Indian  Territory  and  Texas,  and  occasionally  north  to  Massa- 
chusetts and  Michigan.  Recorded  doubtfully  from  Jamaica, 
Labrador,  and  California.  Accidental  at  York  Factory,  Hud- 
son Bay,  and  in  Bermuda. 
1  The  American  woodcock  is  classed  with  upland  game-birds  and 

fully  described  in  the  "  Upland  Game-Birds  "  of  this  library. 


Shore-bird  Shooting  341 

EUROPEAN    SNIPE 

(Gallinago  gallinagd) 

Plumage  —  Almost  exactly  similar  to  G.  delicata,  the  distinction 
between  the  species  being  in  the  size.  In  the  European  variety 
the  bill,  tarsi, -and  toes  are  longer,  the  wing  slightly  shorter. 
The  tail  feathers  are  normally  fourteen  (sixteen  in  the  American 
species),  the  bars  on  lateral  tail  feathers  are  fewer  in  number 
and  feathers  broader,  and  the  white  generally  predominates  on 
the  under  wing-coverts  and  axillars  —  the  reverse  obtaining  in 
G.  delicata. 

Downy  young — Bright  chestnut,  spotted  or  striped  with  black  on 
back,  below  eye,  on  throat  and  fore-neck ;  line  of  white  below 
eye  and  much  of  the  down  above  tipped  with  silvery  white. 

Measurements  —  Length,  10.50  inches;  wing,  5.15  inches;  bill,  2.90 
inches;  tarsus,  1.25  to  1.50  inches  ;  middle  toe,  1.30  inches. 

Eggs  —  Four;  grayish  yellow,  spotted  and  patched  with  brownish 
gray;  measure  1.60  by  i.io. 

Habitat  —  Breeds  throughout  northern  Europe  and  Siberia  to  about 
70°  north  latitude,  in  Iceland  and  probably  Greenland,  and 
south  in  mountain  ranges  to  the  Alps,  southern  Russia,  Turke- 
stan, and  southern  Mongolia,  and  is  said  to  breed  in  Algeria. 
Winters  in  Great  Britain  and  south  to  the  Mediterranean,  west 
to  the  Azores,  south  in  Africa  to  Gambia  and  Somaliland,  the 
northern  shores  of  the  Indian  Ocean,  the  Philippine  Islands,  and 
China.  Has  occurred  in  Bermuda. 

This  snipe  is  found  throughout  the  northern 
parts  of  the  Old  World,  and  closely  resembles  the 
American  variety  in  habits  and  appearance.  It 
has  been  found  in  considerable  numbers  in  Green- 
land and  has  straggled  to  Bermuda.  In  North 
America  it  has  never  been  taken. 

On  Bering  Island  the  English  snipe  is  a 
tolerably  common  summer  resident,  breeding  on 
the  low,  swampy  tundra ;  and  in  the  beginning  of 


342  The  Water-fowl  Family 

the  breeding  season  its  "  bleating  "  is  a  frequent 
sound  during  the  morning  hours.  At  this  time 
the  male  flies  up,  slantingly,  in  the  air,  with 
rapidly  beating  wings,  uttering  his  shrill  note 
until  he  reaches  a  height  of  about  icoofeet,  when 
he  twists  and  wheels  in  irregular  course,  calling  a 
loud,  shrill  zoo-zee;  then  he  darts  for  earth  in 
headlong  flight,  making  a  noise  that  some  have 
likened  to  distant  thunder,  and  others  to  a  bleat. 

WILSON'S  SNIPE 

(Gallinago  delicata) 

Adult  male  and  female  —  Bill,  long,  flattened,  and  slightly  expanded 
at  the  tip,  punctulated  in  its  terminal  half;  top  of  head  and 
entire  upper  parts,  brownish  black,  each  feather  spotted  and 
edged  with  light  rufous  ;  back  and  rump,  barred  and  spotted  in 
the  same  way ;  a  stripe  over  each  eye  and  on  top  of  head,  buff; 
neck,  buff,  marked  with  fine  black  spots  or  lines ;  wing  feathers 
marked  with  brownish  black;  other  under  parts,  white,  with 
dusky  transverse  bars  on  the  sides,  axillary  feathers,  under 
wing-coverts,  and  tail-coverts ;  quills,  dark ;  tail,  soft  brownish 
black,  tipped  with  bright  rufous,  and  with  a  subterminal  narrow 
band  of  black ;  tail,  consists  of  sixteen  feathers ;  bill,  legs,  and 
feet,  greenish  gray ;  iris,  brown. 

Measurements  —  Length,  n  inches;  wing,  5.50  inches;  tail,  2.25 
inches;  bill,  2.50  inches;  tarsus,  1.25  inches. 

Young — Plumage  closely  resembles  the  adult,  but  the  breast  is 
lighter,  not  as  closely  mottled  and  lined. 

Eggs  —  Four  in  number ;  pyriform  in  shape ;  ground  color,  light 
olive,  dotted  with  small  dark  spots,  largest  and  most  abundant 
at  the  broad  end;  measure  1.50  by  1.18  inches. 

Habitat  —  Breeds  from  Maine,  rarely  Massachusetts,  Connecticut, 
and  New  York,  Ohio,  Indiana,  Illinois,  Minnesota,  North 
Dakota,  and  Oregon,  south  in  the  mountains  to  Pennsylvania, 
Colorado,  Utah(?),  Nevada,  and  northern  California,  north  to 


Shore-bird  Shooting 


343 


northern  Labrador  and  the  Arctic  Coast,  from  Fort  Anderson  to 
Bering  Straits,  and  possibly  in  Greenland.  Winters  from  North 
Carolina,  casually  north  to  Massachusetts  and  Nova  Scotia, 
Indiana,  Illinois,  Nebraska,  Colorado,  Wyoming,  Arizona,  and 
British  Columbia,  south  to  the  Bermudas,  Bahamas,  West  In- 
dies, Mexico,  Central  America,  and  Brazil.  Recorded  from  Great 
Britain  and  Hawaii,  and  from  Texas  in  summer. 

The  best-known  and  most  popular  of  all  our 
shore-birds,  generously  distributed  over  the 
marshes  of  the  interior  and  along  the  coast,  from 
as  far  north  as  the  Arctic  regions  to  the  West 
Indies  and  northern  South  America  as  a  south- 
ern range.  There  are  few  more  welcome  sounds 
than  his  creaking  note  as  he  jumps  from  your 
very  feet  in  zigzag  flight.  Whatever  else  you 
have  in  mind  vanishes.  You  watch  him  until 
a  speck,  still  circling  around,  uncertain  where  to 
drop ;  now  he  settles,  the  spot  is  marked,  you 
approach  carefully,  watching  every  tussock  in  the 
bog,  knowing  he  is  not  ten  feet  off,  yet  feel  he 
will  startle  you  just  as  much  as  he  did  at  first, 
and  wish  he  would  hurry  up  and  jump  and  be 
done  with  it ;  but  he  takes  his  own  time  and  prob- 
ably waits  until  you  have  walked  over  him  before 
he  repeats  the  trick  of  twisting  himself  out  of 
range. 

The  Wilson's  snipe  is  as  erratic  as  his  flight. 
To-day  you  see  him,  to-morrow  you  don't.  His 
frequent  borings  in  the  soft  mud  are  perhaps 
the  only  trace  of  his  previous  presence.  Here  he 


344  The  Water-fowl  Family 

thrust  in  his  bill  its  full  length  and  fed  on  little 
worms  and  grubs,  a  diet  that  makes  his  flesh  the 
finest  of  the  fine.  The  flexible  tip  of  a  snipe's 
bill  enables  the  bird  to  feed  at  the  depth  of  its 
boring  without  bringing  the  bill  to  the  surface. 
Our  associations  with  this  bird  are  as  pleasant  as 
they  are  varied.  The  marshes  along  our  coast, 
the  inland  bogs,  and  the  prairie  sloughs  are  among 
the  recollections.  Possibly  we  took  the  unfair 
advantage  of  a  dog,  for  snipe  usually  lie  well ; 
this,  however,  in  locations  where  they  abound  is 
often  unnecessary.  We  look  for  them  on  the 
salt  marshes,  where  there  is  tender  green  grass, 
near  little  springs.  Here  their  borings  betray 
them.  On  the  larger  meadows  usually  snipe  are 
found  in  some  one  particular  spot,  and  this  they 
regularly  frequent  during  their  visitations ;  rarely 
you  see  one  on  the  ground  crouching  with  bill 
outstretched  in  perfect  harmony  with  the  sur- 
roundings. They  should  be  hunted  down  wind, 
for  then  the  bird  gives  a  cross  shot  as  it  rises. 
Experience  teaches  the  gunner  to  wait  until  the 
snipe  has  ceased  its  twisting  and  settled  down 
to  steady  flight,  when  it  is  readily  shot.  The 
Wilson's  snipe  is  nocturnal  in  its  habits  and 
migrates  at  this  time ;  just  at  dusk  they  become 
active,  and  we  often  see  them  darting  from  one 
marsh  to  another,  in  search  of  a  spot  to  feed. 
The  birds  are  not  partial  to  cold  weather,  and  the 


Shore-bird  Shooting  345 

first  frosts  start  them  along.  They  scatter  over 
the  South,  and  we  find  them  broadcast  on  the 
rice-fields  of  the  interior  and  the  swamps  through- 
out the  Gulf  states,  or  close  to  the  coast,  wher- 
ever their  happy-go-lucky  flight  may  chance  to 
land.  Northern  South  America  and  West  Indies 
see  them  in  winter,  and  also  Mexico  and  Central 
America.  The  migration  north  begins  in  April, 
and  the  snipe  drop  into  the  same  little  nooks 
year  after  year,  staying  a  day  or  two,  then  push- 
ing on.  While  occasionally  this  species  nests 
within  our  boundary,  the  breeding  range  is 
farther  north,  and  the  large  body  pass  into  the 
Canadian  provinces,  selecting  the  marshes  on  the 
mainland  and  the  islands  about  the  Gulf  of  St. 
Lawrence,  the  northern  coast  through  Labrador 
and  the  interior  to  Hudson  Bay,  and  on  the  west 
to  Alaska. 

A  fresh-water  marsh  is  the  site  generally  chosen, 
and  the  nest  is  placed  in  a  tussock  of  grass,  likely 
near  a  clump  of  trees.  It  is  a  mere  depression, 
lined  with  a  few  dead  leaves.  June  is  the  incuba- 
tion month.  During  the  mating  season  the  snipe 
changes  its  habit  and  becomes  very  active,  often 
being  long  on  the  wing.  Both  sexes  mount  high 
in  air  and  perform  curious  evolutions,  twisting 
and  turning  about,  finally  dropping  down  a  hun- 
dred feet  or  more,  the  rushing  of  their  wings 
causing  a  peculiar  roaring  sound.  The  birds 


346  The  Water-fowl  Family 

are  often  seen  perching  on  trees  and  bushes  in 
the  vicinity  of  their  nest.  The  young  are  cov- 
ered with  whitish  down,  and  run  soon  after  they 
are  hatched,  hiding  quickly  at  the  approach  of 
danger.  At  first  feeding  on  little  larvae,  worms, 
and  grubs,  on  the  surface,  they  soon  learn  the  art 
of  boring.  The  little  family  remain  together 
through  the  summer  months,  and  early  in  Sep- 
tember congregate  in  flocks.  When  startled  they 
do  not  often  take  flight  all  at  once,  like  the  other 
Limicolae,  but  in  small  bunches.  With  the  gener- 
ous distribution  of  the  Wilson's  snipe,  and  breed- 
ing-grounds secure  in  the  bogs  and  morasses  of 
the  North,  it  would  seem  as  if  this  bird  might  be 
spared  for  his  friends ;  but  the  inevitable  threatens 
him,  and  now  along  our  eastern  coast  the  old- 
time  haunts  are  poorly  patronized. 

GREAT    SNIPE 
(Gattinago  major) 

Male  and  female  in  breeding  plumage  —  Upper  parts,  black,  mottled 
and  barred  with  sandy  buff;  scapulars,  bordered  with  whitish  ; 
rump  and  upper  tail-coverts,  sandy  buff,  barred  with  dusky; 
tail-coverts,  tipped  with  whitish ;  wing-coverts,  bordered  with 
whitish,  and  inner,  with  black  subterminal  bar ;  primaries  and 
secondaries,  dark  brown,  the  latter  tipped  with  white;  tail, 
rufous,  barred  with  black  and  tipped  with  white,  the  white  tips 
increasing  until  the  four  outer  tail  feathers  are  chiefly  white ; 
centre  of  crown,  superciliary  line,  and  sides  of  face,  whitish ; 
rest  of  crown,  line  from  bill  to  eye,  spot  on  ear-coverts  and  on 
the  feathers  of  face,  black ;  hind  neck  and  sides  of  neck,  sandy 
buff,  streaked  with  dusky ;  chin,  breast,  and  abdomen,  white ; 


Shore-bird  Shooting  347 

neck,  upper  breast,  and  under  tail-coverts,  sandy  buff,  the  neck 
and  breast  spotted,  flank  and  tail-coverts  barred  with  blackish ; 
under  wing-coverts  and  axillars,  white,  barred  with  black. 

Whiter  plumage  —  Sandy  buff  more  pronounced,  buff  edges  to 
feathers  above  broader  and  blackish  markings  on  neck  larger ; 
otherwise  similar. 

Young — Much  more  rufous  than  adults  ;  the  black  above  more  uni- 
form and  the  pale  tips  to  the  scapulars  and  wing-coverts  less 
distinct ;  the  inner,  greater  wing-coverts  and  inner  secondaries, 
barred  with  black  and  rufous ;  the  sides  of  head  and  hind  neck 
more  rufous,  and  the  white  breast  and  white  tail  feathers,  barred 
with  dusky ;  bill,  brown ;  feet  and  legs,  light  slate  ;  iris,  brown. 

Downy  young — Above,  ashy  fulvous  becoming  rufous  on  crown, 
centre  of  back  and  wings ;  striped  with  black  on  forehead, 
crown,  lores,  sides  of  head,  back,  and  flanks ;  superciliary  line, 
side  of  head,  centre  of  breast  and  abdomen  white ;  rest  of  lower 
parts,  orange-buff. 

Measurements  —  Length,  1 1  inches  ;  wing,  5.50  inches  ;  tail,  2  inches  ; 
oilmen,  2.50  inches  ;  tarsus,  i  .30  inches. 

Eggs  —  Four;  olive-gray,  spotted  with  pale  purplish  and  purplish 
brown;  measure  1.65  by  1.15  inches. 

Habitat  —  Breeds  from  Prussia,  Poland,  Russia,  and  Siberia,  west 
of  the  Yenesei  River,  north  to  beyond  71°  north  latitude. 
Winters  from  the  Mediterranean  to  South  Africa.  Occurs  in 
migration  from  Persia  to  Great  Britain  and  has  been  recorded 
from  Madeira.  A  skin  in  the  British  Museum  was  taken  in 
Hudson  Bay  before  1830. 

This  is  a  solitary  bird  not  found  in  flocks  except 
in  the  beginning  of  the  pairing  season,  when  the 
males  meet  to  "  drum,"  Professor  Collett  says,  and 
sometimes  to  fight  for  the  females.  At  this  time 
eight  or  ten  birds  will  collect  toward  dusk  at  some 
damp  place  in  a  marsh,  where  there  is  water  be- 
tween the  tussocks,  and  spend  most  of  the  night 
in  displaying  the  beauty  of  their  voices  and  their 


348  The  Water-fowl  Family 

plumage  to  the  females.  A  male  seated  on  one 
of  the  tussocks  gives  first  a  whistling  note,  then  a 
snapping  of  the  bill  several  times,  this  followed 
by  a  hissing,  and  the  last  by  a  gradually  deepen- 
ing sbirrrr.  As  he  makes  these  notes,  the  bird 
seems  in  an  ecstasy,  rising  and  spreading  the  tail 
like  a  fan.  When  two  males  approach  they  strike 
feebly  at  each  other  for  a  few  minutes  with  their 
wings,  but  soon  realize  their  charms  are  better 
fitted  for  display  than  for  combat. 

The   eggs  are  laid  on  a  few  grass  stems  in  a 
slight  hollow  of  the  marsh  near  some  tussock. 

RED-BREASTED    SNIPE 
(Macrorhamphus  griseus) 

Adult  male  in  breeding  plumage —  Head,  neck,  and  lower  parts  gen- 
erally, light  cinnamon,  becoming  white  on  the  abdomen ;  breast 
and  sides,  mottled  and  speckled  with  brown ;  head  and  neck, 
streaked  with  the  same ;  upper  parts,  black,  mixed  with  light 
brown  and  white ;  rump  and  upper  tail-coverts,  white,  spotted 
with  dusky. 

Female — Resembles  the  male,  but  is  larger,  and  the  speckling  on  the 
breast  is  finer. 

Winter  plumage  —  Belly  and  under  parts,  white ;  rest  of  plumage, 
uniform  gray,  mixed  somewhat  with  white  on  the  breast  and 
sides  ;  a  faint  white  stripe  over  the  eyes. 

Young — Head,  neck,  and  upper  parts,  varied  with  black  and  light 
brown,  the  latter  on  the  edges  of  the  feathers  ;  lower  parts,  dull 
white,  marked  with  buff,  especially  on  the  breast ;  throat  and 
sides,  indistinctly  speckled  with  dusky;  iris,  brown;  bill  and 
feet,  olive. 

Measurements  —  Length,  11  inches;  wing,  5.75  inches;  culmen, 
2.25  inches;  tarsus,  1.32  inches;  middle  toe,  i  inch. 


Shore-bird  Shooting  349 

Eggs  —  Four  in  number;  color,  rufous  drab  blotched  with  dark 
brown;  measure  1.60  by  i.io  inches. 

Habitat —  Breeds  in  Labrador,  northwest  possibly  to  Fort  Anderson 
and  probably  north  to  Greenland,  and  is  said  to  have  bred  south 
to  Lake  Superior  and  in  Newfoundland.  Winters  from  Florida, 
Louisiana,  and  the  West  Indies  to  Brazil.  In  migrations  for- 
merly abundant,  now  tolerably  common,  on  the  Atlantic  Coast 
of  the  United  States.  Occurs  in  Ohio,  Indiana,  and  Illinois, 
and  has  been  reported  from  Nebraska,  Idaho,  Oregon,  and  Lower 
California,  and  is  said  to  be  a  non-breeding  resident  in  Louisiana. 
Of  occasional  occurrence  in  Great  Britain,  France,  Alaska,  and 
Bermuda. 


The  common  names  for  this  bird  along  the 
Atlantic  Coast  are  dowitch,  or  dowitcher,  brown- 
back,  and  grayback.  It  is  distinctly  an  eastern 
bird,  but  is  often  confounded  with  the  long-billed 
dowitcher,  the  western  variety.  The  red-breasted 
snipe  early  reaches  the  coast  from  its  haunts  in 
the  North.  By  the  last  week  in  July  the  first 
birds  appear,  and  it  is  most  abundant  from  this 
time  until  early  in  August.  Gentle  and  unsus- 
pecting, the  dowitcher  has  paid  the  penalty  of  a 
confiding  nature,  and  the  flocks  at  the  present 
time  along  the  favorite  flats  and  marshes  of  our 
eastern  coast  are  few  and  far  between.  This  bird 
recalls  a  morning  several  years  ago  in  late  July. 
It  was  on  Shinnecock  Bay,  and  we  left  for  the 
one  good  point  long  before  dawn ;  the  path  lay 
just  inside  the  dunes,  and  in  the  quiet  of  early 
morning  the  mosquitoes  seemed  in  clouds,  with- 
out a  breath  of  air  to  stir  them.  Four  miles  of 


35°  The  Water-fowl  Family 

this  to  the  only  blind.  We  finally  reached  it, 
lucky  to  find  no  market  hunter  had  camped  there 
the  night  before.  The  decoys  were  set,  and  we 
waited  for  daylight.  The  morning  at  last  broke 
cloudy.  Soon  the  first  bird,  a  single  brownback, 
appeared  over  the  water,  heading  for  the  flat  and 
the  decoys  at  its  edge.  He  dropped  among  them 
and  for  a  time  refused  to  fly,  watching  first  the 
blind  and  then  his  wooden  companions.  Pres- 
ently a  flock  followed  his  course,  their  graceful, 
compact  flight  distinguishing  them  at  a  distance. 
They  hovered  over  the  decoys,  bunching  up  close 
together,  and  hardly  a  bird  escaped  the  raking 
shots.  The  few  that  did,  returned  again,  loath 
to  leave  their  dead  and  wounded.  The  wind  now 
freshened  and  for  a  few  hours  there  was  a  pretty 
flight,  small  bunches  following  each  other  at  short 
intervals,  coming  out  of  the  east,  heading  for 
the  points  in  the  same  direction.  By  noon  they 
had  stopped,  and  we  counted  a  bag  of  some  two 
dozen  birds. 

The  dowitchers  feed  on  the  flats  along  with  the 
other  shore-birds,  but  are  the  last  to  leave  when 
the  gathering  is  disturbed.  Animalculae  and 
worms  comprise  their  food,  and  on  this  diet 
they  become  fat  and  are  excellent  eating.  The 
birds  follow  the  receding  tide,  and  when  high 
water  drives  them  from  the  flats  seek  the  higher 
bars  and  marshes.  South  of  Long  Island  this 


Shore -bird  Shooting  351 

species  becomes  more  abundant,  numbers  stop- 
ping on  the  marshes  of  Virginia  and  North 
Carolina  that  have  passed  the  more  northern  feed- 
ing-grounds. The  red-breasted  snipe  visits  the 
West  Indies  and  northern  South  America,  where 
it  winters.  In  the  spring  many  return  along  the 
Atlantic  Coast,  but  a  large  body  probably  fol- 
low the  more  direct  route  through  the  interior. 
Early  in  May  I  have  seen  them  near  the  Chesa- 
peake in  large  flocks,  often  of  several  hundred 
individuals.  The  note  of  this  bird  is  a  plaintive 
whistle,  not  unlike  the  yellowleg's,  but  quick  and 
sharp,  and  it  will  generally  readily  respond.  The 
far  Arctic  regions,  from  the  mountains  eastward, 
are  the  breeding-ground,  and  June  is  the  time  for 
incubation.  Nests  found  by  MacFarlane  at  Fort 
Anderson  were  situated  on  the  borders  of  small 
lagoons.  The  eggs  were  deposited  on  decayed 
leaves,  placed  in  slight  depressions  on  the  mossy 
ground.  In  the  breeding  season  the  note  of  this 
bird  is  modified  and  is  said  to  resemble  the  song 
of  a  land-bird,  both  male  and  female  going  through 
queerevolutions  of  flight.  The  young  are  fledged  in 
July  and  left  by  the  old  birds  to  find  their  way  south 
and  encounter  the  dangers  that  beset  the  course, 
unaided.  The  first  flocks  of  young  red-breasted 
snipe  arrive  off  Cape  Cod  and  Long  Island  early 
in  September.  They  are  even  more  readily  killed 
than  the  adults,  and  but  small  proportions  escape 


35 2  The  Water-fowl  Family 

the  gunner's  gantlet.  In  the  fall  the  plumage  of 
this  bird  takes  on  a  gray  appearance,  and  on  this 
account  it  is  called  grayback  along  the  southern 
shores,  though  dowitch,  dowitcher,  and  red-breasted 
snipe  are  the  more  common  names. 

RED-BELLIED    SNIPE 

(Macrorhamphus  scolofiaceus) 

Adult  male  in  summer  —  Top  of  head  and  back  of  neck,  cinnamon, 
streaked  with  black,  a  superciliary  line  of  buff;  back  and  wings, 
black ;  feathers  margined  with  reddish  brown  and  white ;  rump 
and  upper  tail-coverts,  white,  barred  with  black ;  throat,  light 
buff;  front  and  sides  of  neck,  cinnamon,  mottled  with  brown; 
entire  under  parts,  cinnamon  spotted  with  dusky  on  breast  and 
sides;  central  tail  feathers,  black,  barred  with  white  and  buff; 
remainder  dark  brown,  barred  with  white ;  iris,  brown  ;  bill,  legs, 
and  feet,  olive-green. 

Female  —  Closely  resembles  male,  but  is  larger. 

Adult  in  winter — Head,  back,  and  wings,  gray,  mixed  with  dark 
brown  ;  feathers  on  wing-coverts,  edged  with  light  brown  ;  lower 
back,  rump,  tail-coverts,  and  tail,  as  in  summer,  but  without  any 
buff  markings  ;  throat,  white,  faintly  streaked  with  dusky ;  neck 
and  breast,  brownish  gray. 

This  species  is  distinguished  from  the  eastern  variety  by  its 
slightly  larger  size  and  longer  bill.  In  the  adult  plumage  the 
breast  markings  are  less  numerous  and  have  the  appearance  of 
being  barred  rather  than  spotted  ;  the  cinnamon  extends  over  the 
entire  abdomen,  and  the  upper  parts  are  more  highly  colored. 

Eggs  —  Resemble  the  eggs  of  M.  griseus,  already  described ;  measure 
1. 80  by  1.25  inches. 

Habitat — Breeds  in  northeast  Siberia  and  on  the  coast  of  Alaska 
from  the  Yukon  Delta  to  Point  Barrow  and  the  Anderson 
River,  and  probably  south  to  northern  British  Columbia.  Win- 
ters in  Florida,  Louisiana,  the  West  Indies,  Mexico,  and  prob- 
ably Central  and  South  America,  and  is  said  to  be  a  non-breeding 
resident  in  Louisiana.  In  the  migrations  is  most  common  in 


Shore-bird  Shooting 


353 


the  United  States  in  the  western  Mississippi  Valley,  occurring 
regularly  west  to  the  coast  of  British  Columbia,  the  interior  of 
California,  and  Lower  California,  and  frequently  reported  east  in 
the  fall  along  the  entire  Atlantic  Coast.  Probably  many  of  these 
Atlantic  Coast  records  properly  refer  to  large  females  of  M. 
griseus. 

The  western  representative  of  the  red-breasted 
snipe,  this  bird  straggles  to  the  Atlantic  Coast, 
and  there  are  a  number  of  instances  of  its  oc- 
currence on  Cape  Cod  and  Long  Island.  The 
close  resemblance  to  the  eastern  variety  un- 
doubtedly causes  it  often  to  pass  unnoticed.  The 
western  dowitcher  is  found  abundantly  in  all  the 
prairie  states  and  on  the  Pacific  Coast  south  of 
British  Columbia.  They  are  common  on  the 
ponds  and  prairie  sloughs  of  Dakota  and  Mon- 
tana in  May,  occurring  in  flocks  of  eight  or  a 
dozen,  wading  around  in  the  shallow  water  to  the 
depth  of  their  long  legs,  probing  the  bottom  for 
food.  A  short  sojourn  under  these  circumstances 
enables  them  to  rest  and  fatten.  The  journey 
north  is  made  in  more  of  a  hurry  than  the  return 
trip,  and  the  birds  reach  the  breeding-grounds 
in  poor  condition.  These  are  in  Alaska  on  the 
marshes  about  the  Yukon  and  the  shores  and 
islands  to  the  north.  At  this  time  they  are  very 
active  in  their  courting,  and  the  male  noisy  and 
demonstrative,  disputing  the  possession  of  the 
female.  When  once  their  variances  are  settled, 
each  pair  takes  up  the  duties  of  nesting.  This 


2A 


354  The  Water-fowl  Family 

species  has  many  of  the  habits  of  the  red-breasted 
snipe,  going  through  the  same  peculiar  evolutions 
in  its  mating  season.  According  to  Nelson,  sev- 
eral males  will  chase  a  female  through  the  air  in 
rapid  twisting  flight,  pausing  often  to  utter  a  harsh 
p'eet-u-w'eet,  then  continuing  the  pursuit.  When 
mated  the  male,  hovering  fifteen  or  twenty  yards 
from  the  ground,  on  quivering  wing,  pours 
forth  a  lisping  but  musical  song,  imperfectly 
expressed  by  p'eet-peet ;  pee-ter  wee-too;  wee-too. 
The  nest  is  a  little  hollow  on  the  ground,  and  the 
eggs  are  four  in  number.  Late  in  July  the  birds 
are  seen  on  their  return  trip  along  the  same 
migratory  courses  followed  in  the  spring.  Arriv- 
ing on  the  California  coast,  the  flocks  frequent 
the  shallow  flats  and  marshes,  where  many  are 
killed.  I  saw  them  in  numbers  on  the  shores  of 
the  small  lakes,  scattered  at  long  intervals  through- 
out the  plains  of  northern  Mexico,  in  flocks  of  ten 
or  fifteen  and  in  company  often  with  the  teal  and 
shovellers;  gentle  and  not  annoyed  by  our  ap- 
proach, they  fed  together  unconcerned,  wading 
deep  into  the  water  or  dabbling  at  its  edge.  When 
we  came  a  little  too  close  they  ran  together  and 
stood  motionless  in  a  compact  little  bunch.  The 
flight  was  in  the  same  close  array,  and  few  would 
have  escaped  a  shot.  On  the  wing  occasionally 
their  note  was  heard,  a  whistle,  which  was  quickly 
responded  to.  The  birds  circled  and  returned, 


Shore-bird  Shooting 


355 


settling  within  close  range ;  although  in  late  April 
the  winter  plumage  was  still  in  evidence,  the 
summer  dress  was  beginning  to  be  assumed. 


STILT    SANDPIPER 
(Micropalama  himantopus) 

Adult  male  and  female  in  breeding  plumage —  Front  and  top  of  head, 
black,  streaked  with  buff,  feathers  tipped  with  rufous ;  a  stripe 
from  bill  to  eye  and  ear-coverts,  rufous ;  neck,  white,  streaked 
with  dusky ;  back  and  upper  parts,  black,  variegated  with  gray 
and  buff ;  wings,  dark  gray  ;  primaries,  slate ;  rump,  gray  ;  upper 
tail-coverts,  white,  the  larger  ones  barred  with  dusky ;  middle 
tail  feathers,  light  gray,  the  others  varied  longitudinally  with 
white  and  gray;  lower  parts,  light  buff;  throat  and  breast, 
streaked,  the  other  portions  closely  barred  with  dusky. 

Adult  in  winter  —  Top  of  head,  back,  sides  of  neck,  gray;  super- 
ciliary stripe  and  under  parts,  white,  streaked  with  gray  on  neck, 
breast,  and  lower  tail-coverts. 

Young — Top  of  head,  brownish,  streaked  with  buff;  neck  behind, 
gray ;  back  and  scapulars,  blackish,  feathers  bordered  with  buff; 
wing-coverts  bordered  with  buff  and  white ;  upper  tail-coverts, 
white ;  lower  parts,  white,  the  breast  and  sides  suffused  with 
buff;  breast,  sides  of  the  neck,  and  flanks,  slightly  streaked  with 
gray ;  iris,  brown  ;  feet,  yellowish  green  ;  bill,  black. 

Measurements  —  Length,  8  inches;  wing,  5.25  inches;  oilmen,  1.50 
inches;  tarsus,  1.50  inches. 

Eggs  —  Three  or  four  in  number ;  ground  color,  light  drab,  with  large 
round  markings  of  dusky,  most  numerous  about  the  large  end  ; 
measure  1.50  by  1.05  inches. 

Habitat  —  Breeds  on  the  shores  of  Franklin  Bay  and  probably 
south  to  Hudson  Bay.  In  migrations  tolerably  common  on 
the  Atlantic  Coast  in  fall,  rare  in  the  spring;  more  common  in 
the  western  part  of  the  Mississippi  Valley  and  casually  west  to 
British  Columbia,  Wyoming,  and  Colorado,  and  east  to  Ber- 
muda. Passes  south  in  winter  to  the  West  Indies  and  through 
Central  America  to  Argentina,  Chili,  and  Peru. 


356  The  Waler-fowl  Family 

This  species  is  nowhere  found  in  large  num- 
bers, but  is  a  regular  migrant  along  the  Atlantic 
Coast,  arriving  early,  often  accompanying  the  first 
flights  of  lesser  yellowlegs.  Long  Island  is  a 
favorite  resort  for  the  stilt  sandpiper,  and  it  here 
goes  by  the  name  of  bastard  on  account  of  the 
former  belief  that  it  was  a  hybrid.  These  birds 
are  taken  most  abundantly  in  the  last  few  days  of 
July  and  early  August.  I  have  seen  them  at  this 
time  in  small  flocks,  but  usually  alone  or  in  twos 
or  threes.  They  have  much  the  same  flight  and 
appearance  at  a  short  distance  as  the  summer  yel- 
lowlegs, though  a  perceptibly  smaller  bird.  The 
note  is  not  often  uttered,  but  they  are  readily  per- 
suaded to  drop  into  decoys  at  the  invitation  of  the 
yellowlegs'  whistle.  I  have  never  killed  more  than 
five  or  six  of  these  birds  in  a  morning's  shooting, 
but  have  been  informed  by  the  gunners  that  occa- 
sionally there  is  a  regular  flight  lasting  a  day  or 
so,  when  considerable  numbers  are  seen  and  killed. 
Rarely  flocks  of  some  size  are  noticed.  These  are 
all  adult  birds,  the  young  following  three  weeks 
or  more  later,  and  are  found  under  the  same  cir- 
cumstances and  in  about  the  same  numbers  late 
in  August.  North  of  Long  Island  the  stilt  sand- 
piper is  rare.  On  Cape  Cod  it  is  seldom  killed. 
Several  instances  of  its  occurrence  near  Halifax 
have  come  to  my  attention,  and  I  believe  the  bird 
regularly  appears  in  this  vicinity  and  on  the 


Shore-bird  Shooting  357 

islands  in  the  Gulf  of  St.  Lawrence,  probably 
about  the  middle  of  July,  and  the  early  date  of  its 
passage  south  is  doubtless  a  reason  why  more 
have  not  been  taken.  Late  in  August,  1894,  I 
shot  a  number  of  young  stilt  sandpipers  near 
Cooperstown,  North  Dakota.  They  were  in  a 
considerable  flock  on  the  edge  of  a  small  pond. 
In  the  spring  these  birds  are  very  seldom  seen  on 
the  Atlantic  Coast  of  the  United  States,  their 
migration  being  along  the  Mississippi  Valley  and 
to  the  west.  While  shore-bird  shooting  on  Broad- 
water  Bay,  Virginia,  in  May,  1896,  I  took  a  single 
specimen  of  this  bird ;  it  was  the  first  the  gun- 
ners there  had  seen  in  the  spring.  There  are  also 
a  few  instances  of  the  bird  being  taken  on  Long 
Island  and  in  Connecticut  in  late  May  and  early 
June.  MacFarlane  found  this  species  breeding  at 
Rendezvous  Lake,  and  it  was  tolerably  common 
at  Franklin  Bay.  He  obtained  the  eggs  now  in 
the  Smithsonian  Institute.  The  nest  is  placed 
on  the  ground  and  lined  with  leaves  and  grass. 

KNOT 

(Tringa  canutus) 

Adult  male  and  female  in  breeding  plumage  —  Head  and  upper  parts, 
pale  gray,  variegated  with  black  and  reddish  ;  rump  and  upper 
tail-coverts,  white,  barred  with  black  ;  superciliary  stripe,  throat, 
breast,  and  sides  of  abdomen,  light  cinnamon  ;  lower  abdomen, 
pure  white ;  under  tail-coverts  and  flanks,  white,  spotted  with 
black  ;  iris,  brown ;  bill,  legs,  and  feet,  black. 


The  Water-fowl  Family 

Adult  male  and  female  in  winter  —  Top  of  head  and  neck,  dark 
gray,  streaked  with  white  ;  upper  parts,  back,  and  scapulars,  gray, 
feathers  tipped  with  white ;  under  parts,  white ;  sides  of  face, 
neck,  and  breast,  striped  or  barred  with  gray. 

Young —  Above,  light  ashy  gray,  darkest  on  the  back,  each  feather 
bordered  with  white,  with  a  dusky  edge ;  upper  tail-coverts, 
white,  marked  with  dusky ;  lower  parts,  whitish,  becoming  pure 
white  on  the  abdomen ;  neck  and  breast,  marked  with  streaks 
and  flecks  of  dusky  ;  an  indistinct,  light  superciliary  stripe. 

Downy  young — Buff  to  cream  color,  marked  above  with  black  and 
rufous,  the  black  markings  exceeding  the  ground  color  on 
crown,  back,  and  rump. 

Measurements  —  Length,  10  inches;  wing,  6.50  inches;  tail,  2.50 
inches;  bill,  1.50  inches;  tarsus,  1.25  inches. 

Eggs  —  Probably  four  in  number,  resemble  a  snipe's,  and  measure 
i. 60  by  i.io  inches. 

Habitat  —  Breeds  in  northern  Greenland,  Grinnell  Land,  Melville 
Island  and  Peninsula,  and  possibly  in  Iceland  and  near  Point 
Barrow,  Alaska.  Winters  from  southern  Florida  and  the  West 
Indies  to  Trinidad,  French  Guiana,  and  Brazil.  In  migrations 
formerly  abundant,  but  rapidly  becoming  rare  on  the  Atlantic 
Coast  of  North  America,  rare  in  the  interior,  and  very  rare  on 
the  Pacific  Coast,  except  possibly  in  British  Columbia.  In  the 
migrations  the  knot  occurs  throughout  most  of  the  eastern 
hemisphere,  but  does  not  breed,  unless  in  Iceland.  Winters 
from  the  coast  of  the  Mediterranean  to  South  Africa  on  the 
Atlantic ;  in  India,  Australia,  and  New  Zealand. 

The  red-breasted  sandpiper  has  a  world-wide 
distribution  and  is  a  universal  favorite  among  our 
shore-birds.  In  this  country  it  goes  by  many 
different  names;  the  usual  ones  are  knot,  robin- 
snipe,  Maybird,  red-breasted  plover,  robin's  breast. 
Its  common  range  is  along  the  Atlantic  Coast ;  but 
the  bird  is  occasionally  taken  in  the  interior,  and 
has  been  found  on  the  Pacific  Coast  of  Alaska. 


Shore-bird  Shooting  359 

As  it  breeds  in  the  remotest  Arctic  regions,  its 
nest  has  seldom  been  taken.  An  egg  from  Fort 
Conger,  latitude  81°  44",  was  brought  to  Wash- 
ington by  Lieutenant  Greely.1  It  was  light  pea- 
green,  closely  spotted  with  small  specks  of  brown, 
and  measured  i.io  by  i  inches.  The  knot  has 
been  seen  breeding  on  the  North  Georgian 
Islands  and  the  Melville  Peninsula.  The  eggs 
are  placed  in  a  depression  on  the  ground  or  in 
a  clump  of  grass.  "  When  courting,  these  birds 
play  with  each  other  on  the  wing  and  upon  the 
ground,  in  the  most  interesting  manner,  pursuing, 
avoiding,  and  encouraging  one  another;  while 
the  clear,  sweet,  flutelike  whistle  of  the  male  is 
frequently  heard."  When  the  young  are  hatched 
both  parents  go  through  the  usual  "wounded-bird" 
manoeuvre  to  draw  attention  from  their  young. 
The  adult  birds  appear  on  the  Atlantic  Coast  of 
the  United  States  early  in  August  and  are  most 
abundant,  perhaps,  about  the  tenth  of  the  month ; 
but  the  full,  ruddy  plumage  of  the  spring  is  faded, 
and  the  paler  winter  dress  is  more  or  less  evident 

1  The  egg  taken  at  Fort  Conger,  Mr.  Seebohn  believed  to  be 
wrongly  identified  on  account  of  its  small  size,  and  that  it  was  rather 
an  egg  of  the  semipalmated  sandpiper,  which  "  it  exactly  resembles 
in  size  and  color."  But  it  is  stated  that  the  parent  was  taken  with 
this  egg.  An  egg,  now  in  the  British  Museum,  believed  to  belong 
to  this  species,  is  one  of  a  set  of  four  procured  with  the  parent  bird, 
near  Disco,  Greenland,  in  1875.  This  egg  resembles  that  of  a  snipe, 
and  measures  1.60  by  i.io  inches. 


360  The  Water-fowl  Family 

in  the  gray  and  white  feathers  of  the  back  and 
breast. 

The  robin-snipe  frequent  the  larger  lagoons 
and  feed  on  the  outer  sand-bars,  seldom  coming 
on  to  the  marsh.  The  birds  are  usually  seen  in 
small  flocks  and  keep  to  themselves,  or  occasionally 
feed  with  the  blackbreast.  The  flight  is  speedy 
and  graceful,  and  they  often  close  up  in  a  bunch 
when  suddenly  startled.  Quickly  fattening  on 
their  summer  diet,  the  flesh  is  as  delicate  as  that 
of  the  golden  plover.  In  most  of  the  resorts  for 
shore-birds  along  our  eastern  shores  this  bird  is 
a  short  sojourner,  and,  undoubtedly,  many  of  the 
flocks  in  calm  weather  keep  out  to  sea,  trusting 
no  longer  the  favorite  haunts  of  the  past.  The 
flight  of  the  young  birds  occurs  late  in  August 
and  lasts  into  September.  These  are  tame  and 
gentle,  and  are  readily  shot  as  they  huddle  together 
over  the  decoys,  often  returning  to  hover  over 
their  wounded. 

The  robin-snipe  is  generally  a  silent  bird,  but 
sometimes  its  call  is  heard, —  a  mellow,  low-pitched 
whistle,  readily  responded  to  if  well  imitated. 
One  of  my  pleasant  recollections  of  shore-bird 
shooting  is  associated  with  this  bird.  I  give  the 
date  with  some  hesitation,  for  it  was  May  10,  near 
Cobb's  Island.  During  several  days  previous  red- 
breast had  been  flying,  but  the  tides  were  not 
suitable,  and  it  was  useless  to  try  for  them.  Here 


Shore-bird  Shooting  361 

the  flight  is  along  the  outer  beach,  at  the  edge  of 
the  surf,  the  birds  stopping  to  feed  on  the  mud 
flats  exposed  by  the  falling  tide.  The  sun  was 
not  up  and  the  water  still  high  as  we  set  the 
decoys  off  one  of  the  points  along  the  beach,  close 
to  the  breaking  waves ;  the  blind  was  of  seaweed, 
and  before  we  were  settled  the  first  flock  passed 
by  high  up,  but  a  pair  of  birds  dropped  out  of  it 
and  hovered  in  front  of  us ;  another  minute  and 
ten  more  swung  in.  Flock  after  flock,  from  a  few 
birds  to  hundreds,  passed  in  the  same  line,  coming 
into  sight  over  the  ocean,  striking  the  beach  and 
following  its  edge,  —  now  low  just  over  the  surf, 
now  high  up,  —  the  first  light  of  sunrise  giving 
them  a  black  appearance.  The  undulating  char- 
acter of  the  flight  was  unmistakable  and  was  in 
evidence  when  the  dark  line  first  appeared  —  now 
distinct  on  the  horizon,  presently  out  of  sight  in 
the  waves,  all  of  a  sudden  rising  up  over  the 
decoys  to  circle  in.  Our  chance  lasted  only  a 
few  minutes,  for  when  the  flat  was  exposed  the 
birds  all  passed  by  out  of  range ;  occasionally  we 
whistled  in  an  odd  one,  but  the  flocks  shied  off. 
As  we  carried  back  our  basket  of  birds  it  did  not 
occur  to  us  that  the  experience  of  that  morning 
would  be  our  last  flight  of  redbreast,  but  it  was. 

Since  the  spring  of  1898  this  bird  has  decreased 
remarkably  along  the  Atlantic  Coast,  and,  with  the 
present  ravages  of  spring  shooting  in  Virginia  and 


362  The  Water-fowl  Family 

North  Carolina,  a  beautiful  shore-bird  will  soon 
become  rare. 

After  leaving  the  shores  of  Virginia  not  many 
at  present  appear  on  Long  Island,  or  even  Cape 
Cod,  and  in  fair  weather  the  body  undoubtedly 
keep  out  to  sea,  stopping  on  the  islands  in  the 
Gulf  of  St.  Lawrence  as  their  next  resting-place, 
then  proceeding  north  along  the  coast. 

Four  eggs  identified  as  those  of  the  knot,  the 
parent  of  which  was  seen  but  not  collected,  were 
taken  in  Iceland  in  1890.  These  eggs  are  said 
to  be  unlike  those  of  any  other  sandpiper,  having 
an  emerald-green  ground  color,  which  is  covered 
rather  closely  and  uniformly  with  small  reddish 
spots.  The  measurements  of  these  eggs  are  not 
given,  but  a  plate  indicates  that  they  are  about 
the  size  of  those  of  a  killdeer  or  Wilson's  snipe. 

PURPLE    SANDPIPER 
(Tringa  maritima) 

Adult  male  and  female  in  breeding  plumage  —  Top  of  head,  neck, 
back,  blackish  brown,  feathers  edged  with  chestnut  or  buff ; 
wings,  grayish  brown  ;  coverts  tipped  with  white,  forming  a  bar 
across  the  wing ;  rump,  upper  tail-coverts,  and  central  tail  feathers, 
dark  brown ;  lateral  tail  feathers,  light  brown ;  an  obscure  super- 
ciliary white  streak ;  throat  and  jugulum,  white,  streaked  with 
brown  ;  breast,  gray,  tinged  with  rufous,  the  feathers  tipped  with 
white ;  the  rest  of  under  parts,  white,  streaked  on  flanks  and 
under  tail-coverts  with  pale  brown ;  bill,  dark  brown  ;  legs  and 
feet,  yellowish  ;  iris,  brown. 

Adult  male  and  female  in  winter  —  Upper  parts,  black,  with  a 
purple  gloss,  feathers  tipped  with  gray ;  head,  lead-gray ;  throat, 


Shore-bird  Shooting  363 

white;  breast,  gray,  tinged  with  darker;  under  parts,  white, 
streaked  on  flanks  and  under  tail-coverts  with  dusky  brown ;  the 
plumage  lacks  entirely  the  chestnut  and  brown  of  the  spring. 

Young —  In  the  young  the  feathers  of  the  back  are  tipped  with  white 
in  winter  plumage. 

Downy  young —  Hair  brown  above,  becoming  grayish  white  on  head ; 
spotted  with  black  on  head,  lores,  back,  wings,  and  flanks,  and 
with  white  or  golden  yellow  on  back,  wings,  and  rump ;  lower 
parts,  grayish  white. 

Measurements  —  Length,  8.50  inches;  wing,  5  inches;  culmen,  1.20 
inches  ;  tarsus,  .90  inch  ;  tail,  2.50  inches. 

Eggs  —  Four  in  number,  pale  brownish  buff,  mottled  with  dark 
brown,  and  measure  1.50  by  I  inches. 

Habitat  —  In  North  America,  breeds  in  Greenland,  Cumberland, 
Melville  Peninsula,  northern  shore  of  Hudson  Bay  and  probably 
west  to  Herschel  Island,  and  is  said  to  have  bred  in  Vermont. 
Winters  in  southern  Greenland  and  probably  Labrador,  and  from 
Nova  Scotia  south  regularly  to  Long  Island,  New  York,  and  ir- 
regularly to  Bermuda,  Florida,  the  Great  Lakes,  and  upper  Mis- 
sissippi Valley  to  Missouri.  In  the  eastern  hemisphere,  breeds 
in  Norway,  northern  Russia,  and  northwestern  Siberia,  Nova 
Zembla,  Spitzbergen,  Iceland,  and  the  Faroe  Islands.  Winters 
in  Norway,  Iceland,  the  Faroes,  Great  Britain,  and  south  to  the 
Mediterranean,  and  has  been  recorded  once  from  South  Africa. 


A  bird  of  the  remote  North,  the  purple  sand- 
piper comes  within  our  boundaries  only  in  the 
coldest  weather.  In  Maine  and  New  England, 
these  birds  arrive  in  December  and  frequent  the 
rocks  and  rugged  beaches  along  the  wildest  part 
of  the  coast,  occasionally  in  flocks  of  some  size ; 
but  as  a  rule  they  are  seen  in  twos  and  threes  and 
often  alone.  The  purple  sandpiper  is  exceedingly 
gentle  and  pays  no  attention  to  man's  presence, 
searching  intently  for  its  food  among  the  rocks  left 


364  The  Water-fowl  Family 

bare  and  wet  by  the  falling  tide.     All  winter  long 
they  stay  braving  the  cold  and  hardest  weather. 

While  duck-shooting  on  the  small  rocky  islands 
in  Long  Island  Sound  I  have  often  watched  the 
bird  a  few  feet  off,  indifferent  to  all  danger, 
picking  among  the  barnacles,  occasionally  utter- 
ing its  soft  note  as  it  took  to  wing.  I  shot  one 
under  these  circumstances  in  early  May  with  a 
few  of  the  spring  feathers  noticeable  in  its  plu- 
mage. Usually  with  the  first  indication  of  end- 
ing winter  they  are  on  their  way  north,  following 
the  coast  to  the  breeding-grounds  in  the  Arctic 
regions,  —  here  visiting  Iceland,  Greenland,  Spitz- 
bergen,  and  Nova  Zembla.  June  is  the  time  for 
incubation,  and  the  nest  is  placed  on  elevated 
ground  in  some  slight  depression,  lined  with  moss 
or  grass.  Only  in  the  breeding  season  does  it 
leave  its  loved  rocky  shores  and  seek  the  borders 
of  some  fresh-water  lake  to  rear  its  young,  return- 
ing as  soon  as  possible  to  the  ocean's  roar.  At 
this  time  the  males  gave  a  cry  like  that  of  the 
Bartramian  sandpiper,  but  lower  and  shorter, 
strutting  and  elevating  the  wings  while  uttering 
this  note.  In  its  breeding  plumage  the  purple 
sandpiper  is  seldom  seen.  The  birds  remain 
north  until  late  fall,  and  even  winter  in  Greenland 
in  some  numbers,  huddling  together  on  protected 
ledges  and  fissures  of  the  rocks  for  protection, 
when  threatened  with  heavy  weather. 


Shore-bird  Shooting  365 

While  most  common  along  the  coast,  it  is 
found  through  the  Great  Lake  region  and  has 
even  occurred  in  Missouri.  It  is  not  found  on 
the  Pacific  Coast. 

ALEUTIAN    SANDPIPER 
(Tringa  ptilocnemis  couesi)  1 

Adult  male  and  female  in  breeding  plumage  —  Above,  slate,  the 
feathers  of  the  dorsal  region  widely  bordered  with  bright  cinna- 
mon, in  the  centre,  black ;  wing-coverts,  bordered  with  white ; 
greater  coverts  tipped  with  white,  forming  a  bar  across  the 
wing;  rump,  upper  tail-coverts,  and  middle  tail  feathers,  dusky; 
a  white  superciliary  stripe  extending  to  the  back  of  the  neck ; 
neck,  jugulum,  and  breast,  grayish  white,  or  buff,  spotted  with 
slate ;  remaining  lower  parts,  pure  white  ;  iris,  brown  ;  bill,  legs, 
and  feet,  greenish  yellow  ;  end  of  bill,  dark. 

Adult  male  and  female  in  winter  plumage —  Above,  soft  smoky  gray, 
with  a  purplish  gloss ;  scapulars  and  interscapulars,  bordered 
with  slate ;  head  and  neck,  uniform  plumbeous,  except  the 
throat,  which  is  streaked  with  white  ;  jugulum,  scaled  with  white  ; 
breast  more  broadly  marked  in  a  similar  way. 

Young—  Scapulars,  interscapulars,  and  crown,  black,  bordered 
broadly  with  brown  or  buff;  jugulum  and  breast,  pale  buff  or 
buffy  white,  streaked  with  dusky. 

Downy  young —  Similar  to  T.  maritima,  but  more  rufous  above, 
becoming  light  fulvous  on  head ;  white  markings  larger ;  sides 
tinged  with  fulvous. 

Measurements—  Length,  8  inches;  wing,  5  inches;  culmen,  1.25 
inches;  tarsus,  I  inch. 

Eggs  —  Pale  olive-buff,  spotted  with  umber-brown;  measure  1.46  by 
i  inches. 

1 A  series  of  sixty-three  specimens,  almost  all  young  birds,  which 
I  collected  at  St.  Michael,  Alaska,  and  Unalaska,  in  September  and 
early  October,  1899,  show  a  complete  intergradation,  both  in  size  and 
color,  from  birds  thoroughly  typical  of  T.  couesi  to  others  indistin- 
guishable from  T.  ptilocnemis  taken  in  the  Pribilofs.  —  L.  B.  B. 


366  The  Water-fowl  Family 

Habitat  —  Breeds  on  the  Shumagin,  Aleutian,  and  Commander 
islands,  and  probably  on  the  Kuril  Islands,  and  possibly  on  the 
coast  of  northeastern  Siberia  and  northwestern  Alaska ;  wanders 
northward  in  late  summer  and  early  fall,  to  the  Alaskan  coast 
of  Bering  Sea  and  through  Bering  Straits  into  the  Arctic  Ocean, 
to  Kotzebue  Sound,  Alaska,  and  Plover  Bay,  Siberia.  Winters 
on  the  Commander,  Kuril,  and  Aleutian  islands,  Kadiak,  and  the 
coast  of  Alaska,  south  of  Sitka. 

The  resemblance  between  this  bird  and  the 
purple  sandpiper  is  so  close  that  distinction  in  the 
winter  plumage  is  made  with  difficulty.  A  care- 
ful comparison  shows  less  of  the  purple  gloss  on 
the  back,  and  the  fore  neck  streaked  with  white 
in  the  western  variety.  It  is  common  on  the 
Aleutian  Islands  and  the  coast  of  Bering  Sea, 
also  on  the  Siberian  shore.  These  birds  have 
all  the  habits  of  the  purple  sandpiper,  frequenting 
the  rocky  portions  of  the  coast.  When  storm 
driven,  they  seek  the  shelter  of  the  smaller  bays, 
congregating  in  large  flocks,  allowing  easy  ap- 
proach. On  the  Commander  Islands  they  are 
found  throughout  the  year.  In  the  spring  the 
flocks  break  up  and  the  birds  pair,  selecting  a 
nesting-place,  which  is  on  the  ground,  often  in 
a  tussock  of  grass  not  far  from  the  water. 

At  the  beginning  of  the  breeding  season  the 
male  Aleutian  sandpiper,  rising  on  quivering 
wings  from  the  mossy  tundra,  utters  a  loud,  melo- 
dious twitter,  almost  a  song,  settling  with  out- 
stretched wings  as  the  notes  die  away ;  then  seated 


Shore-bird  Shooting  367 

on  a  tussock,  quivering  with  excitement,  its  wings 
hanging,  it  "  bleats  "  like  the  Wilson's  snipe. 


PRIBILOF    SANDPIPER 

(Tringa  ptilocnemis) 

Adult  male  and  female  in  breeding  plumage  —  Similar  to  71  mari- 
tima,  but  larger,  and  lighter  in  coloring ;  back  and  scapulars, 
light  clay  color,  centre  of  each  feather  black,  their  tips  whitish ; 
rump  and  upper  tail-coverts,  slate,  feathers  with  lighter  tips; 
wings,  plumbeous,  the  coverts  bordered  with  grayish  white ; 
greater  coverts,  broadly  tipped  with  white  ;  several  of  the  inner 
secondaries,  pure  white ;  primaries,  slate,  with  white  shafts ; 
pileum,  light  fulvous,  streaked  with  dark ;  back  of  neck,  the  same 
color,  mixed  with  gray ;  rest  of  head,  including  a  superciliary 
stripe  and  entire  lower  parts,  white ;  jugulum,  streaked  with 
dusky ;  breast,  marked  with  dusky  blotches ;  flanks  and  under 
tail-coverts,  narrowly  streaked  with  dusky. 

Adult  male  and  female  in  winter  plumage  —  Wings,  rump,  tail- 
coverts,  and  tail,  and  posterior  lower  parts,  as  in  summer; 
remaining  upper  parts,  light  gray ;  the  feathers  of  the  back,  dark 
in  the  centre,  with  a  faint  purplish  gloss ;  head,  light  gray ; 
throat,  white  ;  jugulum  and  breast,  white,  irregularly  marked  with 
pale  gray ;  the  upper  parts  are  much  lighter  than  in  T.  maritima. 

Young —  Similar  to  the  summer  dress  of  the  adult,  but  the  wing- 
coverts  are  widely  bordered  with  buff,  as  are  the  feathers  of  the 
head  and  neck;  jugulum,  light  buff,  marked  with  streaks  of 
gray ;  bill,  feet,  and  legs,  yellowish  green ;  bill,  tipped  with  dark  ; 
iris,  brown. 

Downy  young — Similar  to  T.  pt.  couesi,  but  paler;  dark  markings 
on  lores  smaller. 

Measurements  —  Length,  9.50  inches;  wing,  5.25  inches;  culmen, 
1.25  inches;  tarsus,  I  inch. 

Eggs  —  Four  in  number ;  olive-yellow,  with  numerous  large  spots  of 
dark  brown;  measure  1.55  by  i.io  inches. 

Habitat  —  Breeds  on  St.  Matthew,  St.  Lawrence,  and  the  Pribilof 
islands.  Winters  on  the  coast  of  southeastern  Alaska,  in  the 
neighborhood  of  the  Chilkat  Peninsula. 


368  The  Water-fowl  Family 

Closely  resembling  the  forms  just  described, 
the  habits  of  the  Pribilof  sandpiper  are  similar  to 
its  relatives'. 

On  the  Pribilofs  this  bird  is  abundant  and 
tame,  living  on  the  moss-covered  tundra,  on  the 
shores  of  the  pools,  and  in  late  summer  along  the 
beaches.  The  young  leave  the  nest  as  soon  as 
hatched  and  are  well  protected  by  the  resemblance 
of  their  upper  parts  to  the  colors  of  the  vegetation 
around.  When  they  are  approached,  the  mother, 
feigning  lameness,  attempts  to  draw  the  intruder 
away,  while  the  young,  flat  on  the  ground  with 
outstretched  necks,  will  allow  themselves  to  be 
touched  rather  than  betray  their  location  by  a 
movement. 

SHARP-TAILED    SANDPIPER 

(Tringa  acuminatd) 

Adult  male  and  female  in  breeding  plumage  —  Above,  reddish  buff, 
feathers  with  black  centres ;  top  of  head,  ear-coverts,  and  neck 
posteriorly,  streaked  with  black  and  rusty;  rump  and  middle 
upper  tail-coverts,  brownish  black;  lateral  upper  tail-coverts, 
white,  streaked  with  dusky ;  middle  tail  feathers,  dusky,  edged 
with  white;  remainder,  deep  brownish  gray,  bordered  with 
white  ;  a  white  superciliary  stripe  ;  breast,  pale  brownish  gray  ; 
rest  of  lower  parts,  white ;  lower  parts  marked  with  dark  brown 
spots,  which  are  small  on  the  throat  and  breast,  large  and  squa- 
mate  on  the  flanks  and  abdomen,  and  large  and  lanceolate  on 
the  under  tail-coverts ;  iris,  brown ;  bill,  black  at  tip,  greenish 
yellow  at  base ;  legs  and  feet,  greenish  yellow. 

Adult  male  and  female  in  winter  —  Upper  parts,  grayish  brown, 
streaked  and  striped  with  dusky  ;  top  of  head,  rusty ;  superciliary 
stripe  and  lower  parts,  dull  white ;  chest  and  sides  of  breast, 


Shore-bird  Shooting  369 

pale  grayish  buff,  the  chest  indistinctly  streaked  with  dusky; 
lower  tail-coverts  with  dusky  shafts. 

Young — Above,  bright  rusty,  the  feathers  with  black  centres;  the 
whole  top  of  head,  bright  reddish  brown,  broadly  streaked  with 
black;  on  each  side,  a  finely  streaked  superciliary  stripe  of 
white;  outer  scapulars,  tipped  with  white;  rump  and  middle 
upper  tail-coverts,  brownish  black,  tipped  with  brown ;  middle 
tail  feathers,  black,  edged  with  brown ;  remaining  tail  feathers, 
dusky,  bordered  with  whitish ;  cheeks,  whitish,  streaked  with 
dusky;  jugulum,  breast,  and  sides,  deep  buff,  finely  streaked 
with  dusky;  remaining  lower  parts,  including  the  throat, 
white. 

Measurements  —  Length,  8  inches;  wing,  5.50  inches;  culmen,  i 
inch;  tarsus,  1.12  inches. 

Habitat  —  Breeds  probably  in  eastern  Siberia,  going  south  in  winter 
to  Oceanica,  Australia,  New  Zealand,  and  the  Malay  Archipelago, 
through  China  and  Japan.  It  is  common  on  the  north  shore  of 
Siberia  in  August,  and  fairly  common  at  St.  Michael,  Alaska, 
in  September,  occurring  also  at  Kotzebue  Sound,  the  Pribilof 
Islands,  Unalaska,  the  Queen  Charlotte  Islands,  and  Hawaii, 
and  has  been  taken  in  Great  Britain. 


An  Asiatic  species  taken  on  the  Alaskan  coast. 
Nelson  took  a  female  at  St.  Michael  in  1877 
and  later  found  it  a  common  species,  frequenting 
the  pools  on  the  marshes  in  common  with  the 
pectoral  sandpiper.  In  habits  the  sharp-tailed 
sandpiper  resembles  the  latter,  but  differs  from  it 
in  plumage,  having  the  top  of  the  head  more  red- 
dish and  the  breast  without  streaks.  On  the 
Siberian  coast  this  bird  is  common.  It  occurs 
near  St.  Michael  in  small  flocks  the  latter  part 
of  September,  but  has  not  been  taken  in  Alaska 
during  the  breeding  season. 

2  B 


370  The  Water-fowl  Family 

PECTORAL   SANDPIPER1 

(Tringa  maculata} 

Adult  male  and  female  in  breeding  plumage — Top  of  head  and  upper 
parts,  with  scapulars  and  tertials,  light  clay  color  tinged  with 
rusty ;  the  feathers  have  brownish  black  centres ;  wing-coverts, 
grayish  brown,  edged  with  buff;  primaries,  dark  brown;  rump 
and  upper  tail-coverts,  brownish  black,  narrowly  tipped  with 
reddish  buff;  central  tail  feathers,  dusky,  edged  with  lighter; 
others,  pale  brownish  gray,  bordered  with  white ;  superciliary 
stripe,  white ;  cheeks,  sides  of  neck,  jugulum,  and  breast,  pale 
buff,  streaked  with  dusky ;  remaining  lower  parts,  pure  white. 

Adult  male  and  female  in  winter —  Similar  to  the  summer  plumage, 
but  the  rusty  tint  above  wanting  and  the  black  markings  less 
sharply  defined. 

Young —  Similar  to  the  adult  in  summer,  but  scapulars  conspicuously 
tipped  with  white;  the  breast  more  distinctly  buff;  iris,  brown; 
bill,  tip,  brownish,  base,  yellowish  green  ;  legs  and  feet,  greenish. 

Measurements  —  Length,  9  inches;  wing,  5  inches;  culmen,  1.15 
inches;  tarsus,  1.05  inches. 

Eggs  —  Four  in  number ;  greenish  drab  in  color,  spotted  and  blotched 
with  brown  ;  measure  1.50  by  i  inches. 

Habitat  —  Breeds  on  the  coast  of  Alaska,  north  of  the  peninsula, 
abundantly  at  the  Yukon  Delta  and  Point  Barrow,  and  probably 
east  on  the  shores  of  the  Arctic  Ocean  to  the  banks  of  the 
Anderson  River.  Winters  from  Mexico  and  the  West  Indies, 
south  to  Chili  and  Patagonia,  but  chiefly  in  southern  South 
America,  and  occurs  in  flocks  in  Argentina  through  all  the  year 

1  COOPER'S  SANDPIPER  (Tringa  cooperi).  —  A  sandpiper  shot  on 
Long  Island,  New  York,  on  May  24,  1833,  by  William  Cooper,  and 
named  by  Professor  Baird  in  honor  of  its  discoverer,  has  remained 
unique.  This  bird  is  described  as  identical  in  plumage  with  the 
white-rumped  sandpiper,  except  that  there  is  less  of  a  reddish  tinge 
above,  and  the  white  upper  tail-coverts  are  spotted  with  V-shaped 
markings  of  dusky.  It  is,  however,  about  the  size  of  the  knot,  with 
a  length  of  9.50  inches;  wing,  5.80  inches;  culmen,  1.25  inches; 
tarsus,  1.20  inches.  This  bird  is  supposed  to  be  a  hybrid  between 
the  pectoral  sandpiper  and  knot. 


Shore-bird  Shooting  371 

excepting  from  November  15  to  January  15.  In  the  migrations 
it  is  abundant  on  the  Atlantic  Coast  of  the  United  States  and  in 
Bermuda  in  the  fall,  but  very  rare  in  the  spring ;  common  in  the 
Mississippi  Valley  at  both  seasons,  but  almost  unknown  on  the 
Pacific  Coast  south  of  British  Columbia,  excepting  Lower  Cali- 
fornia. It  has  been  taken  rarely  on  the  Pribilof  Islands,  Una- 
laska,  Hawaii,  and  in  Greenland,  and  quite  frequently  in  England. 

The  pectoral  sandpiper  is  a  common  bird  along 
the  Atlantic  Coast  in  summer  and  fall,  where  it  is 
known  by  a  number  of  different  names.  Jack-snipe 
is  a  term  often  applied  to  this  variety.  It  is  also 
called  krieker,  —  on  account  of  its  note,  a  sharp 
kriek-kriek,  —  and  grass  bird,  meadow  snipe,  hay 
bird,  and  brown  snipe.  While  sparing  numbers 
appear  early  in  August,  the  first  large  flocks  ar- 
rive later,  toward  the  end  of  the  month.  They 
frequent  the  salt  marshes  along  our  coast  and 
often  spread  out  over  the  meadows,  something 
after  the  manner  of  the  English  snipe,  under 
such  circumstances  allowing  an  easy  approach. 
While  fond  of  these  surroundings,  sometimes  they 
straggle  on  to  the  neighboring  flats  in  company 
with  the  yellowlegs  or  flocks  of  peep,  on  their 
route  readily  stopping  to  decoys.  On  the  ground 
the  pectoral  sandpiper  is  a  sedate  little  bird,  walk- 
ing deliberately  with  bill  downward ;  when  alight- 
ing, the  wings  are  raised  over  the  back  and  carefully 
folded.  They  are  very  abundant  on  the  islands  in 
the  Gulf  of  St.  Lawrence  and  on  the  mainland 
adjacent,  arriving  early  in  September  in  large 


372  The  Water-fowl  Family 

flocks.  These  birds,  which  are  the  young  of  the 
year,  keep  pretty  much  together  on  the  marshes, 
sometimes  feeding  with  the  golden  plover.  I 
have  often  noticed  the  birds  together  on  the  Mag- 
dalen Islands ;  here  the  kriekers  if  undisturbed 
remain  in  the  same  locations.  When  they  take 
wing,  they  fly  in  a  compact  bunch,  and  if  within 
range,  an  opportunity  is  offered  of  killing  many 
birds  at  a  shot.  The  flocks  increase  in  numbers 
until  late  in  the  month,  when  the  last  arrivals 
seem  to  have  come.  This  same  flight  is  notice- 
able to  a  less  extent  farther  south,  and  on  the 
New  England  and  Long  Island  coasts  the  young 
pectorals  are  found  in  October,  coming  perhaps 
after  a  storm  or  heavy  weather.  These  birds  follow 
along  our  coast  to  South  America,  stopping  at  the 
West  Indies,  extending  their  flight  even  to  Pata- 
gonia. The  spring  flight  is  over  the  interior  along 
the  Mississippi  Valley.  Very  few  are  taken  at  this 
time  on  the  Atlantic  Coast.  The  return  trip  is 
made  in  May,  and  the  pectoral  sandpiper  is  often 
a  common  bird  in  the  markets  of  the  West  at  this 
time.  Until  a  recent  description  of  their  breed- 
ing habits  by  Nelson,  little  has  been  known  of 
this  subject.  He  says,  the  pectoral  sandpiper 
reaches  St.  Michael  and  the  shores  of  Bering 
Sea  about  the  middle  of  May;  the  birds  then 
pair.  During  the  mating  season  the  male  has  a 
peculiar  habit  of  inflating  the  throat  and  uttering 


Shore-bird  Shooting  373 

a  musical  and  resonant  note,  the  skin  of  the 
neck  and  breast  becoming  flabby  and  loose,  hang- 
ing down  in  a  pendulous  flap  if  not  distended. 
When  courting  the  female,  the  male  crosses  back 
and  forth  in  front  of  her,  persistent  in  his  atten- 
tions, with  chest  swelled  out,  at  times  rising  high 
in  the  air  and  going  through  the  same  perform- 
ances. The  nest  is  placed  on  the  ground  in  a 
tuft  of  grass  and  contains  four  eggs. 

The  young  are  fledged  in  July  and  migrate 
south  about  three  weeks  after  the  old  birds. 

The  male  pectoral  sandpiper  is  so  much  larger 
than  the  female  that  more  than  one  sportsman  has 
been  convinced  they  were  different  birds. 

WHITE-RUMPED    SANDPIPER 
(  Tringa  fuscicollis) 

Adult  male  and  female  in  breeding  plumage  —  Upper  parts,  light 
grayish  brown,  the  feathers  tinged  with  buff,  marked  centrally 
with  black ;  the  black  markings  largest  on  the  scapulars,  else- 
where in  streaks  ;  rump,  dusky,  the  feathers  bordered  with  gray ; 
upper  tail-coverts,  pure  white  ;  tail,  dark  gray,  the  central  feathers 
darkest,  all  with  white  edges;  wing-coverts,  brownish  gray; 
superciliary  stripe  and  entire  lower  parts,  pure  white ;  sides  of 
head,  neck,  and  jugulum,  streaked  with  dusky. 

Adult  male  and  female  in  winter  —  Wings,  rump,  upper  tail-coverts, 
and  tail,  as  described  above  ;  rest  of  upper  parts,  brownish  gray, 
streaked  indistinctly  with  black ;  under  parts,  white ;  jugulum, 
more  faintly  streaked  than  in  the  breeding  plumage. 

Young —  Back  and  scapulars,  black,  feathers  tipped  with  white ;  those 
in  the  middle  of  the  back  and  rump,  edged  with  rusty ;  wing- 
coverts,  bordered  with  pale  buff;  breast,  grayish  ;  otherwise  like 
adult  in  summer ;  iris,  brown  ;  bill,  feet,  and  legs,  greenish  black. 


374  The  Water-fowl  Family 

Measurements  —  Length,  7  inches  ;  wing,  5  inches  ;  culmen,  I  inch ; 
tarsus,  i  inch. 

Eggs  —  Four  in  number ;  pyriform  in  shape ;  ground  color,  dark  drab, 
marked  with  patches  of  brown  and  black ;  measure  i  .35  by  .95 
inches. 

Habitat  —  Breeds  on  the  coast  of  the  Arctic  Ocean,  at  Franklin 
Bay,  and  probably  to  Greenland  on  the  east,  Point  Barrow  on 
the  west,  and  Hudson  Bay  on  the  south.  Winters  from  the 
Bahamas,  West  Indies,  and  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  south  to  Pata- 
gonia and  the  Falkland  Islands.  In  Uruguay  it  is  found  in 
flocks  excepting  from  November  15  to  January  15,  in  Patagonia 
all  the  year,  and  it  is  said  to  breed  on  the  Falkland  Islands. 
In  the  migrations  it  is  most  abundant  in  the  United  States 
in  the  Mississippi  Valley,  regularly  west  to  Colorado,  and  has 
occurred  in  California ;  on  the  Atlantic  Coast  it  is  tolerably  com- 
mon in  fall  and  rare  in  spring,  and  occurs  in  Bermuda.  Sev- 
eral have  been  taken  in  Great  Britain,  and  one  in  Franz  Josef 
Land. 

The  Bonaparte's  or  white-rumped  sandpiper 
is  common  throughout  the  eastern  United  States, 
occurring  as  far  west  as  the  Rocky  Mountains. 
On  the  Atlantic  Coast  they  are  a  common  migrant ; 
abundant  along  the  Labrador  shores,  reaching  the 
mainland  early  in  August,  arriving  in  small  relays 
and  frequenting  the  beaches  and  flats  in  company 
with  the  smaller  peep.  Their  numbers  steadily 
increase  until  by  the  middle  and  toward  the  end 
of  the  month  vast  flocks  are  seen.  These  birds 
follow  the  receding  tide,  feeding  on  the  animal- 
culae  that  swarm  at  the  water's  edge.  With  the 
first  flow  they  are  driven  from  the  flats  and  return 
to  the  higher  bars.  On  the  Magdalen  Islands  I 
have  seen  them  in  countless  flocks  flying  com- 


Shore-bird  Shooting  375 

pactly  in  a  black  mass,  turning  and  twisting  in 
unison ;  now  the  white  breasts  gleam  in  the  light, 
the  next  second  the  dark  backs  and  white  rumps, 
a  spot  that  always  marks  them.  They  have  no 
fear,  and  should  a  flock  light  among  the  decoys 
the  birds  sometimes  come  on  to  the  seaweed  blind, 
paying  no  heed  to  the  occupant,  provided  he 
remain  motionless.  When  startled  they  all  rise 
together  and  with  a  rush  of  wings  are  off,  utter- 
ing their  note,  a  sharp  tseet.  All  through  August 
these  birds  remain  and  then  diminish  in  numbers 
as  the  flight  south  is  resumed.  They  are  common 
all  along  our  coast,  but  not  in  the  same  vast  flocks 
as  in  the  North.  The  southern  migration  extends 
along  both  coasts  of  South  America  as  far  south 
as  Chili  and  the  Argentine  Republic.  The  young 
birds  follow  in  September  and  often  linger  late  on 
our  shores.  I  have  killed  them  late  in  November 
on  Long  Island.  The  spuing  flight  north  is  mostly 
through  the  interior,  although  limited  numbers 
follow  along  the  Atlantic  Coast.  May  is  the 
month  for  their  return.  Throughout  the  Barren 
Grounds  they  breed  as  far  north  as  the  shores  of 
the  Arctic  Sea.  The  nest  is  a  shallow  depression 
on  the  ground,  and  three  or  four  eggs  are  laid  on 
the  moss  or  leaves,  if  leaves  there  be.  The  young 
are  hatched  in  late  June,  and  by  July  are  deserted 
by  the  old  birds. 


376  The  Water-fowl  Family 

BAIRD'S  SANDPIPER 

(Tringa  bairdit) 

Adult  male  and  female  in  breeding  plumage — Upper  parts,  variegated 
with  black  and  grayish  buff,  centre  of  the  feathers  black,  with  buff 
borders ;  on  the  crown  and  anterior  portions  of  the  back,  the 
black  is  in  streaks  ;  rump  and  upper  tail-coverts,  brownish  black ; 
tail,  brownish  gray,  middle  feathers  nearly  black,  and  all  edged 
with  whitish  ;  wing-coverts,  grayish  brown  ;  lower  parts,  white  ; 
sides  of  the  head,  neck,  and  jugulum,  buff,  streaked  with  dusky. 

Adult  male  and  female  in  winter  —  Upper  parts,  grayish  clay  color, 
feathers  with  dark  central  streaks,  edged  with  whitish ;  rump 
and  upper  tail-coverts,  dusky,  feathers  bordered  with  gray ;  the 
lateral  upper  tail-coverts,  brownish  white  ;  under  parts,  brownish 
white ;  the  sides  of  the  neck,  jugulum,  and  breast,  and  flanks,  suf- 
fused with  buff;  iris,  brown ;  bill,  black  ;  legs  and  feet,  dark  slate. 

Young — Upper  parts,  similar,  but  the  feathers  of  the  back  more 
bordered  with  whitish ;  sides  of  the  head,  neck,  jugulum,  and 
breast,  pale  clay  color,  indistinctly  streaked  with  dusky ;  other 
lower  parts,  white. 

Measurements  —  Length,  7.25  inches;  wing,  4.75  inches;  culmen, 
i  inch ;  tarsus,  I  inch. 

Eggs  —  Four  in  number;  light  drab,  spotted  with  bright  sepia-brown ; 
measure  1.40  by  I  inches. 

Habitat  —  Breeds  from  the  Anderson  River  to  Point  Barrow,  Alaska, 
and  possibly  south  to  James  Bay.  Winters  in  southern  South 
America,  most  common  in  Chili,  but  occurring  in  Argentina  and 
Uruguay,  passing  through  Central  America  in  migration.  In  the 
United  States,  common  in  migration  from  the  Mississippi  River 
to  the  Rocky  Mountains  ;  occurs  irregularly  in  fall  east  to  the  At- 
lantic Coast,  from  Nova  Scotia  to  Maryland,  and  on  the  Pacific 
occurs  in  Alaska,  Washington,  California,  and  Lower  California, 
and  is  said  to  be  abundant  in  British  Columbia.  Recorded  also 
from  England  and  Walfish  Bay,  South  Africa. 

An  inland  variety  occurring  throughout  the 
interior  in  North  America  from  the  Mississippi 
Valley  to  the  Rocky  Mountains  and  south  into 


S bore-bird  Shooting  377 

Mexico  and  Central  America.  It  frequents  the 
shores  of  lakes  and  rivers,  occurring  generally  in 
flocks  of  five  or  six,  and  is  gentle  and  unsuspect- 
ing. Occasionally  the  bird  is  seen  away  from 
water  and  has  been  noticed  at  the  summit  of 
Mount  Evans  in  Colorado,  an  altitude  of  14,000 
feet.  The  Arctic  regions  of  North  America  and 
Alaska  are  its  breeding-grounds.  The  nest  is  a 
mere  hollow  in  the  grass,  usually  on  dry  ground ; 
and  the  female  is  a  close  sitter,  using  every  arti- 
fice to  distract  the  attention  of  the  intruder  from 
her  eggs,  running  close  in  front  and  feigning 
wounded.  On  the  Atlantic  Coast  this  bird  is  rare, 
and  formerly  but  few  specimens  were  recorded, 
but  are  more  common  than  originally  supposed. 
The  writer  has  found  the  birds  near  New  Haven, 
Connecticut,  repeatedly,  usually  early  in  October, 
and  in  two  instances  in  company  with  red-backed 
sandpipers. 

LEAST    SANDPIPER 
(Tringa  minutilla) 

Adult  male  and  female  in  breeding  plumage  —  Top  of  head,  light 
grayish  brown,  or  fulvous,  thickly  streaked  with  black  ;  back  and 
scapulars,  black ;  feathers,  bordered  with  rusty,  the  tips  of  some 
of  the  feathers  often  whitish;  rump  and  middle  upper  tail- 
coverts,  dark  brown;  lateral  upper  tail-coverts,  white,  with 
markings  of  gray ;  middle  tail  feathers,  dusky,  with  pale  edges  ; 
remainder,  light  gray,  with  white  shafts ;  wing-coverts,  grayish 
brown,  with  dark  centres  and  pale  edges ;  a  light  superciliary 
stripe;  neck  and  jugulum,  pale  fulvous,  streaked  with  dusky; 
throat  and  entire  lower  parts,  white. 


378  The  Water-fowl  Family 

Adult  male  and  female  in  winter — Upper  parts,  dark  brownish  gray, 
the  feathers  with  indistinct,  dark  centres  ;  superciliary  stripe  and 
lower  parts,  white ;  jugulum,  light  ashy,  indistinctly  streaked ; 
otherwise  similar  to  the  summer  plumage. 

Young —  Similar  to  the  summer  plumage  of  the  adult,  but  the  scapu- 
lars without  bars,  and  tipped  with  white  ;  wing-coverts,  bordered 
with  ochraceous ;  jugulum,  pale  fulvous,  slightly  streaked ;  iris, 
brown;  bill,  black;  legs  and  feet,  dusky. 

Downy  young — Above,  bright  cinnamon-rufous  mottled  with  black, 
many  feathers  tipped  with  white;  line  from  bill  through  eye, 
blackish;  forehead,  orbital  region  and  lower  parts,  brownish 
white;  spot  of  bright  cinnamon-rufous  on  side  of  chest. 

Measurements  —  Length,  6  inches;  wing,  3.75  inches;  culmen,  .88 
inch  ;  tarsus,  .75  inch ;  middle  toe,  .60  inch. 

Eggs  —  Four  in  number;  light  drab  in  color,  thinly  marked  with 
brown  spots;  measure  1.15  by  .85  inches. 

Habitat  —  Breeds  from  Sable  Island,  the  Gulf  of  St.  Lawrence,  Kene- 
watin,  Assiniboia,  and  probably  eastern  British  Columbia,  north 
to  the  shores  of  the  Arctic  Ocean,  at  Kotzebue  Sound,  Alaska, 
and  Franklin  Bay,  and  probably  in  Cumberland  and  Greenland  ; 
winters  from  the  Bahamas,  West  Indies,  Florida,  Louisiana, 
and  California,  south  to  Brazil,  Pern,  and  the  Galapagos ;  com- 
mon throughout  the  United  States  in  migration,  and  occurs  in 
Bermuda,  and  a  few  are  found  in  summer  in  Jamaica,  Florida, 
and  Louisiana.  Recorded  from  Siberia  and  Europe. 

Of  all  our  shore-bird  family  this  mite  is  the 
smallest  and  is  widely  scattered  throughout  North 
America,  ranging  from  the  Arctic  Sea  to  Brazil, 
—  passing  through  our  domains  on  their  spring 
and  summer  migration,  in  the  interior  and  along 
the  coast. 

The  least  sandpiper  breeds  in  the  Arctic  regions 
as  far  south  as  Labrador  and  the  islands  in  the 
Gulf  of  St.  Lawrence,  where  it  has  been  taken  on 
the  Magdalens,  but  the  nest  is  seldom  found.  It 


Shore-bird  Shooting  379 

is  placed  on  the  ground,  nicely  concealed  in  moss 
or  grass,  near  water.  The  female,  if  disturbed, 
feigns  wounded,  endeavoring  to  distract  the  atten- 
tion of  the  intruder,  and,  if  not  frightened,  re- 
turning almost  at  once  to  her  nest.  The  downy 
young  are  pretty  little  fellows,  mottled  with  black 
and  bright  rufous  above,  the  down  tipped  with 
silvery  white,  and  as  they  struggle  among  the 
grass  stems  remind  one  of  so  many  large  beetles. 
By  July  they  care  for  themselves.  Toward  the 
middle  and  end  of  the  month,  flocks  of  least  sand- 
pipers in  company  with  the  semipalmated  sand- 
pipers, their  close  companions,  and  ring-necked 
plover  appear  along  our  coast.  These  birds  con- 
gregating in  vast  numbers  are  universally  known 
as  "peep."  Generally  unmolested  they  are  gentle 
and  tame,  allowing  close  approach,  often  coming 
up  on  to  the  blind  itself  if  the  occupant  is  still. 
While  seen  everywhere  on  the  shore,  this  variety 
seems  to  prefer  the  scum-covered  pools  on  the 
marshes,  remaining  after  the  other  sandpipers 
have  left  to  follow  the  falling  tide.  Here  they 
feed  on  insects  and  animalculae  which  abound, 
generally  in  flocks,  for  they  are  sociable  little 
chaps,  when  frightened  taking  wing  and  quickly 
closing  together  in  a  compact  mass  which  too 
often  attracts  a  shot  from  some  wanton  gun.  The 
flight  is  speedy  and  graceful,  the  birds  turning 
and  wheeling  at  the  same  instant,  so  that  now  the 


380  The  Water-fowl  Family 

light  strikes  their  breasts  and  there  is  a  white 
gleam,  another  second,  and  the  backs  show  dark. 
Their  note  is  a  soft  peep  and  hence  the  name.  It 
is  heard  when  a  few  birds  are  in  quest  of  a  flock. 
I  once  saw  a  pigeon  hawk  in  close  pursuit  of  a 
least  sandpiper,  and  within  a  few  feet  of  its  prey ; 
the  little  bird  dodged  it  repeatedly,  finally  effect- 
ing its  escape  by  joining  a  flock  of  larger  birds. 
The  young  birds  of  the  year  follow  the  old,  and 
all  through  August  the  least  and  semipalmated 
sandpipers  remain  with  us,  diminishing  in  num- 
bers toward  the  end  of  the  month,  the  Bona- 
parte's sandpiper  arriving  in  their  stead.  It  is 
early  May  before  we  see  them  again. 

LONG-TOED   STINT 
(Tringa  damacensis) 

Adult  male  and  female  in  breeding  plumage  —  Top  of  head,  nape, 
back,  and  scapulars,  black,  tipped  with  chestnut ;  wing-coverts, 
dark  brown,  with  grayish  edges ;  rump  and  upper  tail-coverts, 
black;  lateral  coverts,  white;  superciliary  stripe,  white;  loral 
stripe,  sides  of  head,  buff;  throat,  white  ;  jugulum,  buff,  spotted 
with  brown  ;  rest  of  under  parts,  pure  white  ;  iris,  dark  brown  ; 
bill,  black ;  feet  and  legs,  yellowish  green. 

Measurements  —  Length,  5.50  inches;  wing,  3.50  inches;  culmen, 
.75  inch  ;  tarsus,  .75  inch  ;  middle  toe,  with  claw,  .90  inch. 

Habitat —  Eastern  Asia,  breeding  in  eastern  Siberia,  Kamchatka,  the 
Kuril  Islands,  and  probably  the  Commander  Islands ;  passes  south 
in  winter,  through  China  and  Japan,  to  India,  Burma,  the  Malay 
Archipelago,  and  Australia ;  accidental  on  Otter  Island,  Alaska. 

This  bird  is  an  Asiatic  variety,  its  eastern  range 
being  marked  by  Japan  and  the   Indian  Archi- 


Shore-bird  Shooting  381 

pelago,  and  has  been  admitted  to  the  American 
Check-List,  on  account  of  its  rare  occurrence  in 
Alaska,  a  single  specimen  having  been  taken  on 
Otter  Island  in  Bering  Sea,  June  8,  1885. 

On  Bering  Island  it  has  been  observed  in 
large  flocks  in  May,  and  feeds  on  the  small  crus- 
taceans which  abound  in  the  masses  of  seaweed 
lying  on  the  beaches.  A  few  breed  there  in  a  large 
swamp  behind  the  town,  and  also  in  Kamchatka 
and  part  of  northeastern  Siberia,  but  the  eggs  are 

unknown. 

DUNLIN 

(Tringa  alpind) 

Plumage  —  Similar  to  T.  a.  pacifica,  but  smaller,  and  less  brightly 
colored  in  breeding  plumage ;  the  pale  markings  of  the  upper 
parts  are  buffy,  and  the  black  abdomen  is  not  strongly  contrasted 
with  the  speckled  breast. 

Downy  young — Upper  parts,  black,  spotted  with  rufous  and  white; 
forehead  and  sides  of  head  buffy  white ;  dark  line  from  bill 
above  and  below  eye  ;  under  parts  grayish  white. 

Measurements  —  Length,  7.50  inches;  wing,  4.50  inches;  culmen, 
1.15  to  1.40  inches;  tarsus,  .85  to  I  inch;  middle  toe,  .70  to 
.75  inch. 

Eggs  —  Four ;  olive,  buff,  or  pale  greenish  ;  spotted  or  speckled  with 
vandyke  brown  and  purplish  gray;  measure  1.30  inches  by  .95 
inch. 

Habitat  —  Breeds  in  Scotland  and  the  islands  north,  occasionally 
England,  Iceland,  and  probably  Greenland,  Denmark,  Russia, 
eastern  Turkestan,  an<i  Siberia,  east  to  the  Yenisei  River,  and 
north  to  latitude  74°,  and  has  bred  in  Spain ;  winters  in  Great 
Britain,  Holland,  and  the  Caspian  Sea,  south  to  the  Canaries, 
northern  Africa,  Somaliland,  possibly  Zanzibar,  and  east  to 
Calcutta;  in  North  America  has  been  recorded  from  west  of 
Hudson  Bay,  Massachusetts,  Long  Island,  New  York,  New 
Jersey  (?)?  an4  Washington,  D.C. ;  also  taken  in  Spitzbergen, 


382  The  Water-fowl  Family 

This  European  variety  has  been  included 
among  the  American  shore-birds  because  of  its 
rarely  straggling  to  the  Alantic  Coast  of  North 
America.  The  dunlin  is  among  the  best-known 
shore-birds  of  Europe,  and  much  has  been  written 
about  it.  The  breeding  habits  are  interesting. 
Then  the  bird  becomes  very  tame,  and  will 
often  stay  on  her  nest  until  closely  approached. 
When  flushed  from  the  eggs,  which  lie  on  a  few 
grasses  in  a  dry  place  in  the  marsh,  she  some- 
times flutters  away  or  leaves  with  a  shrill  cry,  and 
then,  joined  by  the  male,  flies  about  the  disturber's 
head,  uttering  a  gentle  twitter.  This  bird  breeds 
commonly  in  Scotland  on  the  moorland  and 
marshes,  laying  in  May. 

RED-BACKED    SANDPIPER,    OR    AMERICAN    DUNLIN 
(  Tringa  alpina  pacified) 

Adult  male  and  female  in  breeding  plumage  —  Top  of  head,  back, 
scapulars,  rump,  and  upper  tail-coverts,  light  rufous,  streaked 
on  the  crown,  spotted  on  the  back,  with  black ;  wing-coverts, 
brownish  gray,  broadly  tipped  with  white ;  remainder  of  head, 
neck,  jugulum,  and  breast,  grayish  white,  with  dusky  streaks ; 
abdomen,  black ;  sides,  flanks,  anal  region,  and  lining  of  the 
wing,  pure  white,  all  slightly  streaked. 

Adult  male  and  female  in  winter  —  Upper  parts,  plain  ashy  gray, 
marked  occasionally  with  indistinct  dusky  streaks ;  an  indis- 
tinct superciliary  stripe  ;  lower  parts,  white ;  neck  and  jugulum, 
heavily  clouded  with  gray. 

Young —  Back  and  scapulars,  black,  feathers  bordered  broadly  with 
rusty ;  lesser  and  middle  coverts,  bordered  with  buff ;  rump  pale 
brownish  slate ;  upper  tail-coverts,  darker ;  top  of  head,  rusty, 
streaked  with  black;  head  and  neck,  dull  buff,  streaked  with 


Shore-bird  Shooting  383 

dusky ;  throat  and  lower  parts,  white ;  the  breast  and  belly, 
irregularly  marked  with  black ;  iris,  dark  brown ;  bill  and  feet, 
black. 

Measurements  —  Length,  8.50  inches;  wing,  4.75  inches;  culmen, 
1.50  inches;  tarsus,  i.io  inches;  middle  toe,  .75  inch. 

Eggs  —  Four  in  number ;  color,  pale  green,  spotted  and  blotched  with 
dark  brown ;  measure  1 .43  by  I  inches. 

Habitat  —  Breeds  probably  in  Greenland  and  from  Hudson  Bay 
to  Davis  Strait,  Melville  Peninsula,  Point  Barrow,  Alaska,  along 
the  coast  to  the  Yukon,  and  through  eastern  Siberia  to  the 
Yenisei  River.  Winters  from  New  Jersey,  Louisiana,  Texas, 
and  California,  south  at  least  to  Nicaragua,  and  in  Asia  from 
China  and  Japan  to  the  Malay  Archipelago. 

The  American  red-backed  sandpiper  is  closely 
allied  to  the  European  dunlin,  the  two  varieties 
being  almost  indistinguishable,  save  for  a  slight 
difference  in  size,  the  American  bird  being  some- 
what larger.  This  species  is  well  known  along 
both  the  Atlantic  and  Pacific  coasts,  and  occurs 
to  a  less  extent  in  the  interior,  having  been  found 
common  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  Salt  Lake 
and  portions  of  the  Missouri  and  Mississippi 
valleys.  In  the  fall  the  red-backed  sandpiper 
is  a  regular  migrant  on  the  New  England  coast, 
arriving  in  small  flocks.  It  is  found  on  the  sandy 
beaches,  and  I  have  often  noticed  them  on  the 
outer  rocky  islands  and  breakwaters.  The  birds 
are  active  and  restless,  feeding  a  few  minutes  in 
some  spot,  then  taking  wing  and  settling  a  short 
distance  off.  While  flying  the  flocks  bunch  up  and 
a  single  shot  is  often  very  destructive.  Farther 
south  their  numbers  increase,  and  about  the 


384  The  Water-fowl  Family 

Chesapeake  they  are  very  abundant,  reaching 
Florida  in  late  fall.  On  the  spring  migration  the 
birds  are  common  as  far  north  as  Virginia,  but 
much  rarer  on  Long  Island  and  the  New  England 
coast  than  in  the  fall.  I  have  seen  them  abun- 
dant in  May  at  Cobb's  Island,  where  flock  after 
flock  followed  low  down  over  the  surf,  lighting 
on  the  beach  at  the  water's  edge,  and  feeding 
frequently  in  company  with  the  redbreast.  On 
the  flats  they  were  never  in  as  large  numbers. 
The  full  spring  plumage  of  the  red-backed  sand- 
piper is  very  unlike  the  fall,  and  in  the  two  differ- 
ent attires  the  birds  would  scarcely  be  recognized 
as  the  same  species.  The  bright  red  back  and 
soft  black  breast  are  a  pleasing  combination.  In 
this  dress  the  flocks  reach  the  breeding-grounds. 
These  are  in  Alaska  about  the  mouth  of  the 
Yukon,  along  the  shores  of  Bering  Sea,  on 
the  Melville  Peninsula  and  the  northern  portions 
of  the  eastern  Arctic  regions.  Early  in  June  nest- 
ing is  begun,  and  the  birds  become  exceedingly 
active  in  their  devotion  to  each  other,  the  note 
at  this  time  resembling  the  sounds  of  frogs  in 
New  England  in  early  spring,  and  is  heard  every- 
where on  the  tundra.  While  mating,  Mr.  Nelson 
says,  the  males  pursue  the  females  through  the 
air,  uttering  a  musical  trilling  note  which  sounds 
like  "  the  mellow  tinkle  of  large  water-drops  falling 
rapidly  into  a  partly  filled  vessel"  Later,  as  his 


Shore-bird  Shooting  385 

suit  promises  success,  the  male,  rising  fifteen  to 
twenty  yards  in  the  air,  hovers  over  the  female, 
pouring  forth  a  perfect  gush  of  music,  and  then 
sinks  back  to  earth.  But,  later  still,  he  gives  up 
his  singing  and  takes  his  turn  in  keeping  the 
eggs  from  catching  cold.  The  nest  is  on  slightly 
elevated  ground,  and  the  eggs  are  placed  on  a 
little  dried  grass ;  before  August  the  young  fly, 
and  gather  in  flocks  about  the  shore,  remaining 
until  late  September,  then  leaving  for  more  south- 
ern climes.  This  species  is  also  known  in  various 
localities  as  winter  snipe,  leadback,  fall  snipe, 
brant  snipe,  and  black-bellied  sandpiper. 

CURLEW   SANDPIPER 
(  Tringa  ferrugined) 

Adult  male  and  female  in  breeding  plumage  —  Crown,  back,  and 
scapulars,  rusty,  streaked  with  black ;  head,  neck,  breast,  sides, 
and  belly,  deep  chestnut ;  anal  region,  upper  and  lower  tail- 
coverts,  white,  spotted  with  black  and  tinged  with  rusty ;  wing- 
coverts,  brownish  gray,  tipped  with  white  ;  middle  tail  feathers, 
dark  slate  color ;  rest  of  the  tail,  ashy  gray,  feathers  bordered 
with  white. 

Winter  plumage — Upper  parts,  brownish  gray,  marked  indistinctly 
with  darker ;  tail-coverts,  upper  and  lower,  white,  spotted  with 
black;  superciliary  stripe  and  lower  parts,  white,  the  jugulum 
faintly  streaked  with  gray. 

Young — Back  and  scapulars,  dusky  black,  feathers  tipped  with  light 
brown  and  terminally  with  white  ;  lesser  and  middle  wing-coverts, 
bordered  with  buff;  upper  tail-coverts,  white;  indistinct  super- 
ciliary stripe  and  lower  parts,  white ;  jugulum  and  sides  of  the 
head,  tinged  with  "buff;  iris,  brown;  bill,  black  at  tip,  blackish 
green  at  base ;  feet  and  legs,  light  olive. 

2G 


386  The  Water-fowl  Family 

Measurements — Length,  9  inches;  wing,  5  inches;  culmen,  1.50 
inches;  tarsus,  1.12  inches;  middle  toe,  .70  inch. 

Eggs  —  Four  in  number ;  light  greenish  drab  in  color,  with  blotches 
of  brown  of  various  shades;  measure  1.50  by  1.05  inches. 

Habitat  —  Breeds  at  the  delta  of  the  Yenisei  River,  Siberia,  and 
doubtless  other  points  on  the  Arctic  Coast  of  Siberia,  and  a  set 
of  eggs  ascribed  to  this  species  has  been  taken  in  Greenland. 
Winters  in  Africa,  south  to  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope,  India,  the 
Malay  Archipelago,  and  Australia,  and  occurs  in  migration  from 
Great  Britain  to  China  and  the  Philippines.  It  occurs  frequently 
in  Greenland,  and  has  been  recorded  from  the  West  Indies  and 
Patagonia.  On  the  mainland  of  North  America  it  has  been 
recorded  from  Point  Barrow,  Alaska,  Hudson  Bay(?),  Nova 
Scotia,  Maine,  Massachusetts,  Connecticut  (?),  Long  Island, 
New  York,  New  Jersey,  Michigan,  and  Ontario. 

While  common  through  the  northern  portions 
of  Europe,  the  curlew  sandpiper  is  hardly  more 
than  a  straggler  to  the  Atlantic  Coast.  It  has 
been  taken  a  number  of  times  on  Long  Island, 
and  there  are  a  few  instances  of  its  occurrence  in 
New  England.  In  northern  Greenland  it  is  not 
uncommon,  and  breeds.  A  male  of  this  species 
taken  June  6,  1883,  at  Point  Barrow,  Alaska, 
is  the  only  instance  of  its  appearance  on  the 
Arctic  or  Pacific  Coast  of  America. 

The  first  eggs  of  this  species,  of  which  the 
identification  is  beyond  question,  are  a  set  of  four, 
taken  by  Mr.  H.  L.  Popham,  at  the  delta  of  the 
Yenisei  River,  July  3,  1897.  The  female  was 
flushed  from  the  nest,  seen  to  return  to  it,  and 
shot  when  she  ran  away  from  it  the  third  or 
fourth  time.  These  eggs  resemble  those  of  the 


Shore-bird  Shooting  387 

European  snipe  in  color  and  measure  about  ij 
inches  long  by  i  inch  broad.  "  The  nest  was  a 
rather  deep  hollow  in  the  reindeer-moss  in  an 
open  space  on  a  ridge  of  ground  somewhat  drier 
than  the  surrounding  swampy  tundra."  As  these 
eggs  almost  duplicate  in  size  and  color  the  set 
ascribed  to  this  species  procured  by  Governor 
Fencker  in  Greenland,  it  is  probable  that  the 
latter  was  correctly  identified. 


SPOON-BILL    SANDPIPER 

(Eurynorhynchus  pygmceus) 

Adult  male  and  female  in  summer  —  Bill,  characteristic,  black,  longer 
than  the  head,  flat,  dilated  considerably  at  the  extremity  in  a 
rhomboidal  shape ;  head,  neck,  breast,  and  back,  ferruginous, 
the  feathers  of  the  head,  back  of  neck,  and  back,  with  dark 
brown  centres ;  those  of  the  throat  and  breast  slightly  tipped 
with  white ;  under  parts,  from  breast  down,  becoming  white ; 
iris,  brown  ;  legs  and  feet,  black. 

Adult  male  and  female  in  winter — Upper  parts,  dusky  brown,  each 
feather  edged  with  gray  ;  forehead,  face,  throat,  and  under  parts, 
white ;  tail,  short,  consists  of  twelve  feathers,  the  two  central 
ones  longest  and  darkest. 

Young — Top  of  head,  light  gray,  with  black  spots,  feathers  edged 
with  rusty ;  remainder  of  head,  neck,  and  lower  parts,  dirty 
white,  tinged  with  gray  ;  abdomen,  white  ;  scapulars  with  black 
centres,  dark  gray  beneath  the  surface,  tipped  with  dirty  white, 
margined  with  rusty ;  wing,  brownish  gray,  a  white  bar  across 
the  wing  formed  by  the  tips  of  the  greater  coverts. 

Measurements  —  Length,  6  inches;  wing,  3.75  inches;  tarsus,  .90 
inch  ;  culmen,  .90  inch  ;  width  of  bill  near  tip,  .40  inch. 

Eggs  —  Undescribed. 

Habitat  —  Breeding  range  unknown,  but  supposed  to  be  north- 
eastern Siberia,  where  it  has  been  found  in  summer.  Migrates 


388  The  Water-fowl  Family 

through  Japan  and  China  to  India  and  Burma  in  winter.  A 
single  specimen  was  taken  on  the  Choris  Peninsula,  Alaska,  in 
1849. 

Perhaps  the  rarest  of  our  shore-birds,  the 
spoon-bill  sandpiper  has  seldom  been  taken,  and 
little  is  known  of  its  habits.  It  is  most  com- 
mon, probably,  on  the  Arctic  Coast  of  Asia,  and 
may  follow  the  coast  of  China  to  India.  Nelson 
secured  a  specimen  of  this  bird  in  summer  plu- 
mage, in  1 88 1,  at  Plover  Bay,  Siberia.  It  was 
standing  on  the  edge  of  a  small  pool,  on  a  spit 
near  the  harbor  entrance.  A  specimen  in  my  own 
collection  bears  a  Japanese  label,  and  I  have  seen 
the  bird  on  Japanese  price-lists. 

According  to  Nelson,  Nordenskjold  found  this 
species  so  common  at  Tapkan,  on  the  Arctic  Coast 
of  Siberia,  in  June,  that  they  were  served  twice 
on  the  gun-room  table  of  his  ship.  A  number  of 
specimens  have  been  collected  in  India  in  winter, 
and  in  spring  and  fall  in  China  and  Japan. 
Little  is  known  of  this  bird's  habits,  and  its  eggs 
have  never  been  taken. 

SEMIPALMATED    SANDPIPER 

(Ereunetes  pusillus) 

Adult  male  and  female  in  breeding  plumage  —  Upper  surface,  light 
gray-brown,  occasionally  tinged  with  pale  cinnamon ;  head  and 
dorsal  region,  heavily  spotted  with  black;  wing-coverts,  pale 
brown,  edged  with  white;  primaries,  dark  brown,  edged  with 
black ;  rump,  black  ;  upper  tail-coverts,  blackish  brown  ;  a  dusky 
loral  stripe ;  superciliary  stripe  and  throat,  pure  white ;  breast, 


Shore-bird  Shooting  389 

gray,  striped  with  brown  ;  rest  of  under  parts,  white  ;  iris,  brown  ; 
bill,  feet,  and  legs,  black  ;  feet,  slightly  palmated.  This  always 
distinguishes  them  from  the  least  sandpiper. 

Adult  in  winter  —  Similar  to  the  summer  plumage,  but  the  breast 
and  lower  parts  are  white,  only  slightly  tinged  with  gray. 

Young —  Similar  to  the  summer  adult  plumage,  but  breast  is  tinged 
with  pale  grayish  buff  and  is  without  well-defined  streaks  or 
spots;  scapulars  are  bordered  with  white;  the  brown  on  the 
upper  parts  is  usually  lighter. 

Downy  young — Crown,  chestnut;  rest  of  upper  parts,  fulvous  brown, 
spotted  with  black  and  white  ;  forehead,  whitish  ;  black  line  in 
centre  of  forehead  and  on  lores ;  throat,  fulvous  white ;  rest  of 
lower  parts,  white. 

Measurements — Length,  6  inches;  wing,  3.75  inches;  culmen  of 
male,  .68  to  .75  inch,  of  female,  .80  to  .95  inch  (Ridgeway)  ; 
tarsus,  .85  inch, 

Eggs  —  Four  in  number ;  ground  color,  a  light  gray,  thickly  spotted 
with  reddish  and  dark  sepia,  chiefly  on  the  larger  end ;  measure 
1.20  by  .85  inches. 

Habitat — Breeds  from  Labrador  and  Hudson  Bay  to  the  Arctic 
Coast  at  the  Anderson  River,  and  along  the  coast  to  Kotzebue 
Sound,  Alaska,  and  possibly  south  in  the  interior  to  Assiniboia, 
and  a  set  of  eggs  believed  to  belong  to  this  species  has  been 
taken  in  Connecticut.  Winters  from  the  Bahamas  and  the 
West  Indies,  possibly  Florida  and  Texas,  to  Central  America, 
Brazil,  and  Patagonia.  Abundant  in  North  America  east  of  the 
Rocky  Mountains  in  migration,  and  in  British  Columbia  east 
of  the  Cascades  ;  occurs  also  on  the  coast  of  California  and  Brit- 
ish Columbia,  and  has  been  taken  on  the  Pribilof  Islands  and 
Bermuda,  and  occurs  in  Florida  in  summer.  Accidental  in 
Europe. 

With  the  least  sandpiper  this  bird  comprises 
the  flocks  of  peep  found  along  the  eastern  coast 
—  now  in  many  of  the  former  haunts  about  all 
that  is  left  of  the  shore-bird  family.  Arriving  on 
our  shores  toward  the  end  of  July,  they  swarm 


390  The  Water-fowl  Family 

about  the  beaches,  feeding  at  the  water's  edge, 
often  rising  in  a  cloud,  showing  now  white,  now 
dark,  as  the  birds  in  unison  turn  breasts  or  backs 
to  the  light.  This  species  is  less  of  a  marsh  bird 
than  its  associate,  the  least  sandpiper,  and  prefers 
the  sandy,  muddy  flats,  left  bare  by  a  falling  tide. 
In  places  where  thick  eel-grass  is  exposed  at  low 
water,  they  often  congregate  on  the  surface,  giving 
the  appearance  a  short  distance  off  of  walking 
on  the  water.  Early  to  come  and  early  to  go, 
most  of  the  peep  are  southward  bound  before  the 
middle  of  August,  following  our  coast  to  the  West 
Indies  and  South  America,  where  they  winter,  to 
return  in  May  along  the  same  courses.  They 
breed  in  the  regions  about  the  shores  of  the 
Arctic  Sea,  from  Labrador  to  Alaska.  The  nest 
has  been  found  in  the  Barren  Grounds  and  on  the 
islands.  It  is  placed  on  the  grass  or  moss,  and 
incubation  is  established  in  June.  The  young 
fly  in  July.  While  this  bird  is  found  chiefly  in 
the  eastern  portions  of  North  America,  in  the 
West  giving  place  to  the  western  variety,  it  is 
abundant  along  the  Mississippi  Valley  and  in 
Texas,  and  is  said  to  be  common  in  Alaska.  The 
semipalmated  sandpiper  with  the  least,  in  locali- 
ties, goes  by  the  name  of  ox-eye.  Like  the  other 
small  sandpipers  it  is  friendly  and  unsuspicious 
and  will  continue  feeding  within  a  few  feet  of  an 
observer,  if  he  refrains  from  sudden  movements. 


Shore-bird  Shooting 


WESTERN    SANDPIPER 
(Ereunetes  occidentalis) 

Adult  male  and  female  in  breeding  plumage — Very  similar  to  E. 
pusillus,  but  with  top  of  head  and  upper  parts  more  marked 
with  brown ;  the  cinnamon  along  the  sides  of  the  crown  is  some- 
times nearly  uniform ;  a  white  superciliary  stripe,  bordered  below 
by  a  stripe  of  light  rufous  from  the  bill,  beneath  the  eyes,  to  the 
ear-coverts ;  remainder  of  the  head,  white,  streaked,  except  on 
the  throat,  with  dusky ;  lower  parts,  pure  white ;  jugulum  and 
breast,  thickly  marked  with  streaks  of  dusky ;  iris,  brown ;  bill, 
feet,  and  legs,  black. 

Adult  in  winter,  and  young —  Not  distinguishable  in  winter  from 
E.  pusillus.  In  these  plumages  distinction  can  only  be  made 
from  the  greater  length  of  bill. 

Downy  young —  Similar  to  E.  pusillus,  but  with  rusty  prevailing  on 
upper  parts. 

Measurements — Length,  6.75  inches;  wing,  3.75  inches;  culmen 
of  male,  .85  to  .95  inch,  of  female,  I  to  1.15  inches  (Ridge- 
way)  ;  tarsus,  .90  inch. 

Eggs  —  Similar  in  color  and  measurements  to  E.  pusillus. 

Habitat  —  Breeds  at  the  mouth  of  the  Yukon,  Alaska,  along  the 
coast  to  Kotzebue  Sound,  and  is  said  to  be  an  abundant  resident 
in  British  Columbia.  Winters  on  the  Atlantic  Coast  from  North 
Carolina  to  Florida,  probably  in  the  West  Indies,  and  occurs  in 
Mexico,  Central  America,  and  Venezuela  to  Peru.  In  migra- 
tions abundant  on  the  Pacific  Coast  of  North  America,  occurring 
on  the  Aleutian  and  Queen  Charlotte  islands  ;  tolerably  common 
in  the  interior  east  to  the  Rocky  Mountains,  and  in  Texas,  and 
on  the  Atlantic  Coast  from  Massachusetts  south. 

Almost  exactly  similar  to  the  semipalmated 
sandpiper,  but  with  slightly  larger  bill.  This 
bird  is  common  along  the  western  coast  and  also 
in  the  interior.  It  is  sometimes  taken  on  the 
eastern  coast  in  company  with  the  flocks  of  peep. 
In  the  spring  the  western  sandpiper  is  abundant 


392  The  Water-fowl  Family 

on  the  shores  of  Bering  Sea  and  the  coast  and 
islands  of  Alaska  about  the  mouth  of  the  Yukon. 
They  arrive  here  in  May,  and  toward  the  end  of 
the  month  breed  near  the  pools  about  the  shore. 
The  note  at  this  time  is  almost  musical,  and  the 
mated  birds  are  devoted  to  each  other.  The 
courting  of  this  species  is  much  the  same  pretty 
performance  as  that  of  the  red-backed  sandpiper, 
the  same  author  tells  us,  and  also  describes  how 
the  male,  to  show  his  best  to  his  wished-for  mate, 
trailing  his  wings,  elevating  and  partly  spreading 
his  tail,  struts  before  her  "  like  a  pygmy  turkey- 
cock."  The  nest  is  placed  on  elevated  ground, 
on  the  moss,  or  grassy  hummock,  and  the  female 
watches  faithfully  her  eggs.  The  young  are 
hatched  in  June,  and  by  late  September  the  flocks 
have  passed  on  to  the  southern  shores. 

SANDERLING 
(Caladris  arenaria) 

Adult  male  and  female  in  breeding  plumage  —  Top  of  head  and 
neck,  back  and  scapulars,  have  the  centre  of  the  feathers  black, 
edged  with  rufous  brown  and  grayish  white,  the  latter  color  pre- 
dominating ;  wing-coverts,  ashy  brown,  tipped  with  rufous  or 
gray ;  greater  coverts,  edged  with  white,  forming  a  broad  bar 
across  the  wing ;  primaries,  dark  brown ;  rump,  dark  brown, 
feathers  edged  with  grayish  white  or  rufous  brown ;  middle  tail- 
coverts,  black,  margined  with  rufous ;  lateral  tail-coverts,  white, 
with  occasional  black  streaks  ;  tail,  grayish  brown  ;  sides  of  head, 
throat,  neck,  and  breast,  light  rufous,  streaked  and  speckled  with 
black  ;  rest  of  under  parts,  white. 


Shore-bird  Shooting  393 

Adult  male  and  female  in  winter  —  Above,  pale  gray,  the  centre  of 
the  feathers  black ;  on  the  rump,  the  centre  of  the  feathers  a 
light  brown ;  under  parts,  pure  white. 

Young — Upper  parts,  gray,  spotted  with  black  and  white,  sometimes 
a  buff  tinge,  the  white  or  the  buff  being  noticeable  on  the  tips 
of  the  feathers;  jugulum,  white,  faintly  tinged  with  buff;  re- 
mainder of  under  parts,  white ;  iris,  brown  ;  bill  and  feet,  black. 

Measurements  —  Length,  8  inches  ;  wing,  5  inches  ;  culmen,  I  inch  ; 
tarsus,  i  inch. 

Eggs  —  Four  in  number;  color,  brownish  olive  marked  with  faint 
brown  spots;  measure  1.44  by  .95  inches. 

Habitat  —  In  North  America  breeds  from  the  Barren  Grounds,  near 
the  Arctic  Coast  at  Franklin  Bay,  north  to  Grinnell  Land  and 
northern  Greenland,  and  possibly  south  to  Hudson  Bay.  Win- 
ters from  Virginia,  occasionally  Massachusetts,  Bermuda,  West 
Indies,  Texas,  and  southern  California,  south  to  Chili  and  Pata- 
gonia, sometimes  occurring  in  Venezuela  by  July  7,  and  in  Bolivia 
in  August.  In  the  migrations  it  is  common  on  the  Atlantic 
Coast  of  the  United  States ;  rather  rare  in  the  interior,  except 
on  the  Great  Lakes,  and  on  the  Pacific  Coast  north  of  California. 
In  the  eastern  hemisphere  it  has  been  found  in  summer  in  north- 
ern Siberia,  Spitzbergen,  Franz  Josef  Land,  and  Iceland,  but 
the  eggs  have  not  been  taken.  Winters  from  the  Mediterranean 
to  South  Africa,  the  north  shore  of  the  Indian  Ocean  to  Burma 
and  the  Malay  Archipelago,  in  China  and  Japan,  and  in  many 
islands  of  the  oceans,  including  Hawaii. 

One  of  the  most  widely  distributed  of  the  sand- 
piper family,  the  sanderling  is  found  along  the 
shores  of  North  and  South  America,  and  pretty 
much  throughout  the  eastern  hemisphere.  Its 
favorite  haunts  are  the  ocean  beaches,  at  the  very 
edge  of  the  foamy  swash,  where  a  receding  wave 
leaves  bare  and  wet  the  sand  and  sand-flies 
are  flooded  from  their  holes.  Here  the  sander- 
ling dodges  the  rough  water  in  quest  of  food, 


394  The  Water-fowl  Family 

running  just  in  front  of  the  wave;  if  startled, 
circling  out  over  the  breakers,  to  turn  in  and  feed 
again  farther  down  the  beach.  We  often  see 
them  on  the  sand-bars  of  bays  and  lagoons,  gath- 
ered in  large  flocks,  and  ready  to  take  wing  at 
any  provocation.  On  the  mud  flats  they  are  less 
common,  and  marshes  seldom  attract.  Early 
August  is  the  time  to  look  for  sanderling.  The 
birds  are  short  sojourners,  and  generally  by  the 
middle  of  the  month  are  gone,  to  be  followed  a 
little  later  by  the  young  birds,  the  first  of  which 
arrive  by  the  end  of  the  month  and  remain  into 
September.  Their  plumage  is  different  from  the 
adult,  and  has  a  soft,  attractive  appearance,  —  the 
snowy  white  of  the  breast  and  the  gray  and  black 
markings  of  the  back  affording  a  pleasing  com- 
bination. The  young  are  very  tame,  and,  though 
small,  are  killed  regularly  along  the  coast.  In 
the  spring,  early  May  finds  the  sanderling  along 
our  shores  in  more  limited  numbers  than  in  the 
fall,  but  still  in  many  localities  abundant. 

The  breeding  plumage  varies  considerably,  from 
a  white  on  the  breast  to  a  rich,  reddish  brown, 
mottled  and  speckled  with  dark,  a  handsome  dress. 
By  June,  far  beyond  our  reach,  in  the  seclusion  of 
the  Arctic  regions,  they  breed,  and  in  a  short  six 
weeks  are  ready  to  leave  their  young  and  begin 
the  long  trip  south.  The  nest  has  not  frequently 
been  taken.  One,  and  the  first,  found  by  MacFar- 


Shore-bird  Shooting  395 

lane,  near  the  Arctic  Sea,  was  on  the  ground,  con- 
structed of  grass  and  decayed  leaves,  in  a  little 
hollow.  A  nest  described  by  Fielding  was  situ- 
ated on  a  gravel  ridge,  several  hundred  feet  above 
the  sea-level,  on  a  small  depression  in  a  recum- 
bent Arctic  willow. 

Other  names  for  this  bird  are  beach  bird  and 
ruddy  plover. 

MARBLED    GODWIT 
(Limosa  fedoa) 

Adult  male  and  female  in  breeding  plumage  —  Head  and  neck,  pale 
buff,  with  black  streaks ;  these  are  broadest  and  most  numerous 
on  the  top  of  the  head  and  neck ;  upper  parts,  entire,  and  scapu- 
lars, reddish  buff,  irregularly  barred  with  black ;  rump  and  upper 
tail-coverts,  buff,  barred  with  dark  brown ;  tail,  reddish  barred 
irregularly  with  brown ;  a  broad  superciliary  stripe  of  white ;  a 
loral  stripe  of  dark  brown ;  throat,  white  or  buff;  entire  under 
parts,  pale  rufous  or  buff,  the  color  varying  in  intensity  in  dif- 
ferent individuals,  transversely  crossed  with  wavy  dark  lines, 
except  the  centre  of  the  abdomen  and  anal  region,  which  is 
plain ;  under  wing-coverts,  reddish  buff;  bill,  long,  curved  up- 
ward, both  mandibles  grooved ;  dull  flesh  color  at  its  base, 
with  the  terminal  half  dark  brown  ;  feet,  bluish  gray ;  iris,  brown. 

Adult  male  and  female  in  winter  —  Resemble  the  spring  plumage, 
but  the  buff  is  paler  and  more  indistinct. 

Young  —  Resemble  adults,  but  are  more  finely  mottled  above;  entire 
lower  parts,  pale  rufous,  becoming  buff  on  throat,  not  barred, 
sparingly  streaked  with  dusky  on  lower  neck. 

Measurements  —  Length,  18  inches  ;  wing,  9  inches  ;  tail,  3.50  inches  ; 
bill,  4.50  inches  ;  tarsus,  3  inches. 

Eggs  —  Three  to  four  in  number;  color,  pale  greenish  drab,  spotted 
and  blotched  with  yellowish  and  olive-brown ;  measure  2.27  by 
i. 60  inches. 

Habitat — Breeds  from  Ohio  (?),  Iowa,  Nebraska,  Colorado,  and 
Minnesota,  possibly  Lower  California,  to  Manitoba,  Saskatche- 


396  The  Water-fowl  Family 

wan,  and  British  Columbia  east  of  the  Cascades,  and  probably 
Hudson  Bay  and  Alaska,  as  a  young  bird  has  been  taken  at  Point 
Barrow  in  August.  Winters  from  southern  California,  Lower 
California,  Louisiana,  Florida,  and  the  West  Indies,  to  Central 
America,  and  recorded  in  Ecuador,  Peru,  and  Argentina.  Rare 
migrant  through  eastern  North  America,  chiefly  in  fall,  but  re- 
corded from  Newfoundland  to  Florida. 

Formerly  common  and  well  known  through 
temperate  North  America,  the  great  marbled  god- 
wit  and  the  long-billed  curlew  probably  show  the 
evidence  of  a  relentless  persecution  more  than  any 
others  of  our  shore-birds.  In  places  where  flocks 
of  thousands  were  no  uncommon  sight,  now  these 
birds  are  rare.  Along  the  coasts  of  our  South- 
ern states,  especially  Florida,  the  great  marbled 
godwit  wintered  in  vast  numbers,  frequenting  the 
marshes  and  flats,  gathering  on  the  sandy  islands 
offshore  to  rest.  Like  the  long-billed  curlew,  the 
birds  show  a  peculiar  devotion  to  their  wounded, 
circling  around  them,  uttering  cries  of  distress, 
and  exposing  their  ranks  to  shot  after  shot.  The 
note  is  a  clear  whistle  and  the  godwit  readily 
answers  the  call,  though  when  feeding  on  the  open 
marshes  it  is  wild  and  shy.  On  the  New7  Eng- 
land coast  and  Long  Island  this  species  has  never 
been  common,  and  is  at  the  present  time  only  a 
straggler.  During  the  past  summer  (1902)  three 
were  taken  on  Cape  Cod.  I  have  known  of  a  few 
shot  on  Long  Island  in  the  past  two  years.  In 
the  Western  states,  particularly  on  the  plains,  this 


Shore-bird  Shooting  397 

bird  is  still  found,  and  is  not  uncommon  on  the 
prairie  watercourses  of  Montana  and  Dakota, 
south  into  Texas.  The  flocks  are  usually  small 
and  on  the  wing,  marked  by  a  characteristic, 
undulating  flight,  —  the  birds,  under  these  circum- 
stances, seldom  uttering  any  note.  The  flesh 
generally  is  excellent.  May  is  the  time  for  the 
appearance  of  the  spring  flight,  and  numbers 
breed  as  far  north  as  the  fur  countries,  but  more 
commonly  within  our  own  boundaries  than  was 
originally  supposed,  nests  having  been  found  in 
Iowa  and  in  parts  of  the  Missouri  River  regions. 
In  May,  1901,  I  saw  a  pair  of  these  birds  on  one 
of  the  large  marshy  lakes  near  Chihuahua,  Mexico. 
They  were  among  a  number  of  teal  and  avocet, 
and  kept  on  the  grass  near  the  flat,  remaining 
after  the  others  had  taken  wing,  and  allowed  an 
easy  approach.  On  the  Pacific  Coast  the  marbled 
godwit  is  found  in  numbers  in  southern  Califor- 
nia, and  may  breed  here,  the  young  having  been 
noticed  in  July.  The  various  names  for  this 
species  are  red  curlew,  straight-billed  curlew,  and 
marlin. 

PACIFIC    GODWIT 

(Limosa  lapponica  bauert) 

Adult  male  in  breeding  plumage — Top  of  head,  dusky  black,  streaked 
with  buff;  neck  posteriorly,  buff,  streaked  with  dusky;  back  and 
scapulars,  dusky,  irregularly  mottled  with  light  rufous;  rump, 
dusky  gray,  feathers  faintly  bordered  with  white;  upper  tail- 
coverts,  white,  the  feathers  with  triangular  spots  of  dusky  in  the 


398  The  Water-fowl  Family 

centre,  tipped  with  white  ;  tail,  gray,  the  feathers  barred  irregu- 
larly with  white  on  inner  webs ;  a  stripe  extending  from  the  bill 
over  the  eye,  cheeks,  throat,  and  entire  under  parts,  reddish 
buff;  belly,  white;  under  tail-coverts,  white,  transversely  marked 
with  dusky ;  iris,  brown  ;  bill,  flesh  color  at  base,  blackish  brown 
on  terminal  half;  legs  and  feet,  bluish  gray. 

Adult  female  in  breeding  plumage  —  Similar  to  the  male,  but  the 
under  surface  is  paler  and  more  mixed  with  white,  and  the 
measurements  average  larger. 

Adult  male  and  female  in  winter  —  Top  of  head,  back  of  neck,  and 
upper  parts,  brownish  gray,  lightest  on  head  and  neck ;  centre 
of  the  feathers,  dark ;  under  parts,  ash-brown  on  throat  and 
neck,  white  on  breast  and  abdomen ;  flanks,  faintly  barred. 
The  plumage  shows  wide  variations. 

Measurements  —  Length,  16  inches  ;  wing,  8.75  inches  ;  oilmen,  3.50 
inches  ;  tarsus,  2.25  inches. 

Eggs  —  Two  in  number ;  greenish  drab,  with  irregular  blotches  of 
pale  brown;  measure  2.25  by  1.42  inches. 

Habitat  —  Breeds  in  eastern  Siberia,  Kamchatka,  and  western  Alaska 
from  the  mouth  of  the  Yukon  to  Kotzebue  Sound  and  probably 
Point  Barrow,  and  possibly  on  the  Aleutians.  Winters  in  the 
Malay  Archipelago,  Australia,  New  Zealand,  and  Oceanica. 
Occurs  in  migrations  on  the  Pribilof,  Aleutian,  and  Commander 
islands,  Hawaii,  China,  Japan,  and  the  Philippines,  and  acci- 
dentally in  Lower  California. 

A  summer  resident  of  Alaska,  this  bird  is 
hardly  more  than  a  straggler  to  the  Pacific  Coast 
of  the  United  States,  having  been  taken  in  Lower 
California.  It  is  found  along  the  shores  of  east- 
ern Asia,  and  on  various  of  the  Pacific  islands, 
south  to  Australia.  The  Pacific  godwit,  in  breed- 
ing plumage,  is  a  showy  bird  and  the  largest  of 
the  waders  in  the  regions  it  frequents.  Nelson 
describes  it  as  reaching  St.  Michael  in  flocks  of 
from  twenty  to  two  hundred,  separating  toward 


Shore-bird  Shooting  399 

the  middle  of  May  into  pairs,  and  seeking  the 
open  country  to  breed.  The  males  carry  on  a 
very  vociferous  courtship,  uttering  continually  a 
loud  ku-w'ew,  and  occasionally  a  rolling  whistle, 
resembling  that  of  the  Bartramian  sandpiper. 
The  nest  is  placed  in  the  sedge  grass  on  the 
ground,  and  contains  usually  two  eggs.  Numbers 
of  the  birds  breed  in  comparatively  small  territory, 
and  if  this  is  disturbed,  resent  the  intrusion  with 
wild  commotion,  circling  about  and  uttering  cries 
of  distress.  The  young  are  hatched  in  June  and 
fly  in  July,  all  leaving  at  the  approach  of  fall. 
On  the  Pribilof  Islands  the  birds  disappear  in 
May  and  return  late  in  August.  Marshes  near 
the  shore  and  the  adjacent  flats  are  their  resorts, 
and  here  they  feed  on  small  shellfish  and  animal- 
culae.  The  flesh  is  excellent. 

The  bar-tailed  godwit,  of  which  this  bird  is  a 
subspecies,  with  habits  probably  identical,  nests 
on  the  tundra  in  the  northern  part  of  Siberia. 
The  nest  is  very  difficult  to  find,  as  the  female 
sits  close,  her  back  exactly  resembling  the  sur- 
rounding ground,  and  the  nest  itself  is  merely  a 
slight  hollow  lined  with  a  few  grasses  somewhere 
on  the  great  waste  of  rolling  tundra.  The  male, 
on  the  other  hand,  assails  the  intruder,  when  he 
is  half  a  mile  from  the  nest,  with  violent  scream- 
ing, and  stays  with  him  until  he  leaves  the  place. 
The  note  is  said  to  sound  like  koo-wak. 


400  The  Water-fowl  Family 


HUDSONIAN    GODWIT 
(Limosa  hcemastica) 

Adult  male  —  Top  of  head,  neck,  upper  parts,  blackish  brown,  irregu- 
larly spotted  and  barred  with  ochraceous,  the  rump  plain 
brownish  black;  upper  tail-coverts,  white;  wing-coverts,  plain 
dark  gray ;  primaries,  dark  brown,  with  white  shafts ;  lower 
parts,  chestnut-brown,  marked  with  bars  of  dark  brown,  the 
feathers  of  the  belly  tipped  with  white ;  tail,  black,  with  base 
and  tip  of  white  ;  wings  underneath  and  axillars,  black. 

Adult  female  in  breeding  plumage  —  Similar  to  male,  but  paler  on 
breast,  the  feathers  here  more  mixed  with  white;  averages 
larger. 

Adult  male  and  female  in  winter —  Above,  pale  dull  brownish  gray  ; 
under  parts,  white  ;  breast  shaded  with  dark  gray. 

Young — Resembles  the  winter  plumage,  but  each  feather  of  the 
dorsal  region  marked  with  a  subterminal  dusky  crescent,  and  a 
narrower  terminal  one  of  ochraceous ;  under  parts,  pale  drab ; 
abdomen,  white,  and  jugulum,  gray ;  bill,  grayish  yellow,  dark 
brown  along  the  ridge  of  the  upper  mandible  and  toward  the 
tips  of  both  ;  iris,  brown  ;  feet,  slate  color. 

Measurements  —  Length,  15  inches;  wing,  8.25  inches;  tail,  3.50 
inches  ;  culmen,  3  inches  ;  tarsus,  2.40  inches. 

Eggs — Four  in  number;  dark  drab  in  color,  larger  end  stained  and 
spotted  with  dark  umber;  measure  2.15  by  1.40  inches. 

Habitat  —  Breeds  on  the  lower  Anderson  River  in  Arctic  America, 
and  probably  east  near  the  shores  of  the  Arctic  to  Cumberland, 
and  possibly  west  to  Point  Barrow  and  south  to  Hudson  Bay. 
Winters  in  Argentina,  Patagonia,  south  to  Straits  of  Magellan, 
and  on  the  Falkland  Islands.  In  the  migrations  through  the 
United  States  not  found  west  of  North  and  South  Dakota,  Ne- 
braska, Kansas,  and  Louisiana ;  most  common  on  the  Atlantic 
Coast  in  fall  and  the  Mississippi  Valley  in  spring,  occurring  also 
in  western  Cuba,  and  on  the  Yukon  and  Cook  Inlet,  Alaska. 
Flocks  of  this  species  are  said  to  appear  in  Argentina  in  April 
and  stay  until  September,  and  these  birds,  some  believe,  breed 
in  Patagonia  and  the  Falkland  Islands.  One  taken  in  Ber- 
muda. 


Shore-bird  Shooting  401 

The  Hudsonian  godwit  is  rather  an  uncom- 
mon bird,  probably  at  no  time  abundant  on  the 
Atlantic  Coast  of  the  United  States.  It  is  now 
a  rare  straggler,  and  in  the  haunts  famous  for 
shore-birds  along  our  shores  an  odd  one  is  only 
occasionally  taken.  This  species  is  known  by  the 
gunners  in  some  localities  as  spotted  rump,  spotted 
marlin,  or  ring-tailed  marlin. 

One  of  the  market  gunners  on  Cape  Cod  told 
me  during  the  gunning  season  he  usually  killed 
one  or  two  of  these  birds.  On  Long  Island  I 
have  heard  the  same  story.  Those  specimens 
I  have  known  of  in  these  places  have  been  adults 
in  immature  plumage,  taken  early  in  August. 
The  young  bird  would  not  appear  before  the 
middle  of  September.  Farther  north  on  the 
Atlantic  Coast  the  Hudsonian  godwit  is  a  regular 
summer  migrant,  congregating  in  large  numbers 
on  the  shores  of  Hudson  Bay  and  Labrador,  pre- 
paratory to  the  start  south.  I  have  seen  these 
birds  on  some  of  the  islands  in  the  Gulf  of  St. 
Lawrence  in  large  flocks.  They  arrive  late  in 
July,  the  first  comers  being  steadily  augmented 
by  new  arrivals  until  by  the  first  week  of  August 
their  greatest  abundance  has  been  reached.  From 
this  time  on  the  numbers  rapidly  decrease,  and  by 
the  last  of  the  month  only  odd  birds  are  seen. 
The  young  appear  about  the  middle  of  Septem- 
ber and  until  October  i  are  common  in  the 

2D 


402  The  Water-fowl  Family 

same  locations.  On  the  adjacent  mainland  and  the 
shores  farther  south  the  birds  are  seldom  met  with, 
and  then  only  as  odd  stragglers.  Where  they  stop 
next  and  what  their  course  is  on  departing  is  a 
mystery.  Probably  they  keep  well  out  to  the 
open  sea,  and  along  with  the  golden  plover  wisely 
skip  the  United  States  in  the  fall  flight  south. 

On  the  islands  where  these  birds  congregate 
they  frequent  the  large  open  lagoons  where  the 
low  tide  leaves  exposed  miles  of  sand-bars.  Here 
they  follow  the  water's  edge  and  wade  in  up  to 
the  full  length  of  their  long  legs,  feeding  on  ani- 
malculae  and  small  larvae  for  which  their  bill  is 
peculiarly  adapted,  having  the  same  flexible  tip  as 
that  of  the  Wilson's  snipe.  With  the  rising 
water,  first  the  small  sandpipers,  then  the  larger 
birds,  are  driven  from  the  flats ;  last  of  all  the  god- 
wit.  They  start  in  flocks  of  from  ten  to  twenty 
and  keep  well  in  the  centre  of  the  lagoon,  flying 
over  the  flooded  flats,  avoiding  carefully  all  land, 
even  the  farthest  points  and  islands. 

The  long  black  lines  of  birds  undulating  in 
their  flight  can  readily  be  distinguished  from  any 
other  shore-bird.  They  have  a  very  dark  appear- 
ance. In  a  short  half-hour  the  last  flocks  have 
passed  and  there  is  no  further  flight  until  the 
next  tide.  At  high  water  they  congregate  on 
the  upper  beaches,  well  out  of  reach  of  any  dis- 
turber. For  a  long  time  it  was  impossible  to 


Shore-bird  Shooting  403 

arrange  a  blind  in  the  range  of  the  flight,  but 
finally  by  piling  up  heaps  of  seaweed  and  staking 
them  down  far  out  in  the  shallow  water,  we 
managed  to  kill  a  small  number.  They  quickly 
learned  the  danger,  however,  and  would  keep  on 
their  course  just  out  of  reach. 

Late  in  September  the  young  birds  are  more 
readily  shot,  as  they  frequently  come  on  to  the 
marshes.  The  godwit  is  a  silent  bird,  and  I  have 
seldom  heard  a  note.  The  flesh  is  excellent,  per- 
haps the  best  of  all  the  shore-birds.  On  its 
spring  migration  the  Hudsonian  godwit  is  found 
through  various  parts  of  the  interior  of  the  United 
States ;  here  it  passes  up  the  Mississippi  Valley 
with  the  golden  plover  and  they  are  killed  in 
some  numbers  in  the  Western  states  in  May, 
where  they  find  their  way  occasionally  into  the 
markets ;  but  the  birds  waste  little  time  en  route 
and  are  generally  in  poor  condition.  The  breed- 
ing-ground is  in  the  far  Barren  Lands  of  the  Arc- 
tic regions.  June  is  the  incubation  time ;  the  nest 
is  a  mere  depression  on  the  ground  containing 
three  or  four  eggs. 

BLACK-TAILED   GODWIT 
(Limosa  Izmoscf) 

Adult  male  and  female  in  breeding  plumage  —  Head,  neck,  and 
jugulum,  cinnamon,  the  head  streaked  and  the  jugulum  barred 
with  dusky ;  remaining  lower  parts,  white,  with  dusky  bars  on 
breast  and  sides ;  back  and  scapulars,  mixed  with  black,  cinna- 


404  The  Water-fowl  Family 

mon,  and  gray ;  wing-coverts,  brownish  gray,  greater  coverts 
tipped  with  white,  forming  a  conspicuous  patch ;  rump,  long 
upper  tail-coverts,  and  most  of  the  tail,  dusky  ;  upper  tail-coverts 
and  base  of  the  tail,  white  ;  axillars  and  lining  of  the  wing,  white. 

Female  —  Less  highly  colored  than  the  male  and  larger. 

Adult  male  and  female  in  winter  plumage — Upper  parts,  dark 
brownish  gray,  lightest  on  the  head  and  neck ;  jugulum,  pale 
gray ;  other  lower  parts,  white  ;  otherwise  as  in  summer. 

Young —  Head,  dull  brown,  feathers  edged  with  rufous,  an  indistinct 
light  buff  line  passing  from  the  base  of  the  bill  beyond  the  eye ; 
neck,  dark  buff;  back,  brown,  with  an  occasional  darker  feather ; 
all  the  feathers  tipped  with  rufous;  greater  wing-coverts,  dull 
gray,  tipped  with  white;  middle  coverts,  brown,  tipped  with 
buff;  sides  of  head,  neck,  and  breast,  buff;  bill,  blackish  brown, 
orange  at  base;  legs  and  feet,  black;  iris,  brown. 

Downy  young —  Rusty  yellow  ;  spotted  above,  especially  on  crown 
and  rump,  with  black ;  line  through  eye,  cheeks,  and  belly,  pale 
yellowish. 

Measurements  —  Length,  15.75  inches;  wing,  8  inches;  culmen, 
4.25  inches  ;  tarsus,  2.80  inches. 

Eggs  —  Three  to  four  in  number,  light  olive-brown  in  color,  blotched 
with  darker  brown;  measure  2.17  by  1.50  inches. 

Habitat — Breeds  in  Iceland,  in  Europe  from  Holland  to  Scandinavia, 
Russia,  and  western  Siberia,  north  to  the  Arctic  circle.  Winters 
from  Spain  and  the  coast  of  the  Mediterranean  sometimes  south 
to  Abyssinia  and  Madeira,  occurring  in  Great  Britain  in  migra- 
tion. One  taken  near  Godthaab,  Greenland,  about  1830. 

The  black-tailed  godwit  belongs  to  the  Old 
World,  frequenting  the  northern  parts  of  the 
European  continent,  migrating  south  in  winter 
to  Africa.  Its  occasional  occurrence  in  Green- 
land has  caused  it  to  be  included  in  the  American 
Check-List. 

In  the  desolate  marshes  found  in  some  parts 
of  north  central  Europe,  this  species  carries  on 


Shore-bird  Shooting  405 

the  duties  of  nidification,  laying  its  four  dark 
eggs  early  in  May,  in  a  rather  deep  hollow  lined 
with  a  few  grasses,  in  some  dry  tussock.  Some- 
times in  such  places  colonies  may  be  found,  many 
pairs  selecting  the  same  locality  to  rear  their 
young.  Shy  as  a  rule,  at  this  season  they  lose  all 
fear  and  attack  man,  cow,  horse,  or  hawk,  swoop- 
ing at  the  head  of  the  invader  with  a  loud  tyii, 
tyii,  and  not  losing  courage,  though  many  may 
be  shot.  The  downy  young,  when  only  a  day  or 
so  old,  wander  among  the  coarse  grasses,  calling 
plaintively  when  the  rank  growth  hides  them 
from  one  another. 

EUROPEAN    GREENSHANK 

(Totanus  nebular  ius} 

Adult  male  and  female  in  breeding  plumage  —  Top  of  head,  neck, 
scapulars,  and  back,  gray,  striped  with  black,  margin  of  feathers, 
white ;  wing-coverts,  dark  brown,  edged  with  white ;  primaries, 
blackish  brown,  with  white  shafts  to  first ;  lower  back,  rump, 
and  upper  tail-coverts,  white,  with  irregular  bars  of  black  on  the 
tail-coverts;  central  tail  feathers,  gray,  with  dusky  bars;  the 
two  next  to  central,  barred  with  black ;  others,  pure  white ; 
under  parts,  white ;  neck  and  breast,  streaked  and  spotted  with 
black ;  iris,  brown  ;  bill,  black ;  legs  and  feet,  olive-green. 

Adult  male  and  female  in  winter  plumage — Above,  pale  ash-gray, 
feathers,  tipped  with  white  and  with  dark  shaft  streak;  fore- 
head, white ;  lores  and  centre  of  forehead,  dusky ;  under  parts, 
pure  white. 

Young —  Similar  to  adults  in  winter,  but  more  tinged  with  rufous 
brown  above,  and  feathers  spotted  with  whitish  brown ;  central 
tail  feathers,  white,  barred  with  black ;  chest  and  sides  of  breast, 
streaked  and  spotted  with  dusky. 


406  The  Water-fowl  Family 

Downy  young — Above,  black  and  gray,  tinged  with  reddish;  fore-« 
head,  sides  of  head  and  entire  under  parts,  white ;  line  through 
eye,  on  forehead,  and  spot  on  crown,  black. 

Measurements  —  Length,  14.50  inches;  culm  en,  2.25  inches;  wing, 
7.50  inches;  tarsus,  2.25  inches. 

Eggs  —  Four;  pale  yellowish  green,  spotted  with  dark  brown  and 
pale  gray;  measure  1.90  by  1.35  inches. 

Habitat — Breeds  in  Scotland,  northern  Europe,  and  northern 
Siberia.  Winters  on  the  coasts  of  the  Mediterranean,  through- 
out Africa  to  Cape  Colony,  in  India,  the  Malay  Archipelago, 
Australia,  China,  and  Japan.  In  migration,  ranges  through- 
out the  eastern  hemisphere,  from  the  Canary  Islands  to  Norfolk 
Island  and  the  Commander  Islands,  and  has  been  recorded  from 
Chili,  Argentina,  and  Florida. 

The  only  reason  for  including  this  bird  in  the 
North  American  list  is  the  single  instance  of  its 
capture  by  Audubon,  on  Sand  Key,  near  Cape 
Sable,  Florida.  Here  three  specimens  were  taken, 
May  28,  1832.  They  were  all  males,  and  were 
mistaken  at  the  time  for  yellowlegs. 

This  species  has  many  of  the  habits  of  the 
greater  yellowlegs,  moving  the  head  in  the  same 
manner  when  suspicious  of  danger,  but  seldom 
occurring  in  such  large  flocks.  In  the  winter,  in 
Egypt,  single  birds  are  occasionally  seen  standing 
on  the  banks  of  the  Nile,  or  in  small  pools  left 
on  the  sand-flats  by  the  retreating  waters,  and 
even  feeding  quietly  at  the  water's  edge,  amidst 
the  roar  of  the  First  Cataract.  They  seem  to 
have  little  fear  of  danger,  and  are  easily  ap- 
proached. In  the  breeding  season  the  green- 
shank  prefers  woodland  lakes  and  streams,  laying 


Shore-bird  Shooting  407 

its  eggs  on  the  ground,  usually  close  to  the  shore, 
but  sometimes  taking  an  open  spot  in  the  woods 
some  distance  from  water.  The  female  sits  close, 
and  when  the  young  are  hatched  both  parents 
are  very  brave  and  noisy. 


GREATER   YELLOWLEGS 

(Tot anus  melanoleucus) 

Adult  male  and  female  in  breeding  plumage  —  Top  of  head,  neck, 
upper  parts,  slate-black,  variegated  with  pale  gray  and  white, 
the  latter  in  the  form  of  spots  along  the  edge  of  the  feathers, 
including  the  wing-coverts  and  tertials ;  nape,  grayish  white, 
with  dusky  streaks ;  upper  tail-coverts,  white,  irregularly  barred 
with  dusky ;  primaries,  dark  slate ;  tail,  white,  all  the  feathers 
barred  with  dusky ;  middle  feathers,  gray ;  cheeks,  ear-coverts, 
neck,  breast,  and  sides,  streaked  and  transversely  spotted  with 
dusky  ;  throat  and  abdomen,  pure  white. 

Adult  male  and  female  in  winter  plumage  —  Upper  parts,  light  gray, 
without  the  black,  but  with  the  white  spotting ;  neck  and  jugu- 
lum,  finely  streaked  with  dusky ;  breast  and  abdomen,  white, 
the  flanks  irregularly  marked  with  gray. 

Young —  Similar  to  the  winter  dress,  but  darker,  the  white  spotting 
tinged  with  buff ;  bill,  black;  iris,  brown;  legs  and  feet,  deep 
yellow. 

Measurements — Length,  13.75  inches;  wing,  7.40  inches;  culmen, 
2.20  inches;  tarsus,  2.45  inches;  middle  toe,  1.50  inches. 

Eggs  —  Four  in  number ;  grayish  white  with  dark  brown  spots,  the 
brown  in  various  shades  ;  measure  1.75  by  1.30  inches. 

Habitat  —  Breeds  from  Anticosti  and  British  Columbia,  north  to 
Labrador  and  Fort  Simpson,  Mackenzie  River,  rarely  south  to 
Illinois  and  Nebraska,  and  possibly  Wyoming.  Winters  from 
the  Bahamas,  Florida,  rarely  North  Carolina,  Louisiana,  British 
Columbia,  and  southern  California,  south  to  Argentina,  Chili,  and 
Patagonia,  to  the  Straits  of  Magellan.  In  both  Louisiana  and 
Argentina  it  is  found  all  the  year,  and  has  been  thought  to  breed 


408  The  Water-fowl  Family 

in  Patagonia.  It  has  been  taken  in  Cumberland  and  Cook 
Inlet,  Alaska.  Common  in  migration  throughout  the  United 
States,  and  occurs  in  Bermuda. 

The  greater  yellowlegs  is  one  of  our  most 
widely  distributed  and  well-known  shore-birds, 
passing  along  both  coasts  and  through  the  inte- 
rior on  its  spring  and  fall  migrations.  In  early 
August  we  hear  its  mellow  whistle  on  the  marshes 
and  flats  of  the  eastern  shore,  a  welcome  sound, 
announcing  the  time  for  the  first  shore-bird  shoot- 
ing is  at  hand,  and  he  who  loves  this  sport  braves 
mosquitoes  and  goes  early  to  the  marsh.  When 
migrating  south,  these  birds  fly  in  large  flocks, 
often  some  distance  offshore.  On  reaching  the 
haunts  along  their  course  where  they  are  in  the 
habit  of  stopping  to  rest  and  feed,  the  large  bands 
break  up  and  the  birds  scatter  over  the  marshes 
and  flats,  keeping  by  themselves  or  mingling  with 
the  numbers  of  big  and  little  shore-birds  that 
frequent  the  beaches. 

The  greater  yellowlegs  is  a  sociable  bird,  and 
when  alone  usually  makes  its  presence  known 
by  the  shrill  whistle  which  too  often  receives  an 
answer  from  a  gunner's  blind.  When  coming  to 
decoys,  the  birds  set  their  wings,  swooping  among 
the  stools ;  jumping  up  with  a  frightened  yelp  on 
seeing  their  mistake,  they  offer  an  easy  chance. 
A  short  sojourn  on  good  feeding-grounds  quickly 
fattens  them,  but  the  flesh  is  not  equal  to  that  of 


GREATER   YELLOWLEGS 


Sbore-bird  Shooting  409 

the  small  yellowlegs.  Both  varieties  of  this  bird 
have  the  habit,  when  on  the  ground,  of  tilting 
the  bodies  if  their  attention  is  attracted.  The 
adult  birds  are  killed  along  our  coast  until  late 
August,  and  are  followed  in  September  by  the 
young.  These  are  often  preceded  by  heavy 
weather  and  wind.  The  first  usually  appear  early 
in  the  month,  and  are  found  until  late  in  October. 
They  are  easily  called  up  within  range  and  killed, 
often  con:  ig  back  repeatedly  to  their  wounded 
until  the  whole  flock  is  destroyed,  or  a  single 
survivor  wings  his  way  convinced.  Flocks  of 
yellowlegs  pass  through  the  interior  and  follow 
the  watercourses  south,  wintering  over  a  wide 
area  in  South  America,  on  the  plains  of  the 
Argentine  Republic,  and  Patagonia.  In  localities 
where  they  are  not  disturbed  the  birds  quickly 
become  gentle,  and  pay  little  heed  to  man;  tip- 
ping their  body  in  an  inquisitive  way,  they  watch 
him  for  a  minute,  then  feed  along  the  edge  of  the 
pond,  rising  when  approached  too  close,  to  settle 
a  short  distance  off  and  go  through  the  same 
action. 

In  Mexico,  in  May,  1901,  we  found  them  in 
sparing  numbers  on  the  ponds  and  mesa  lakes, 
associating  with  the  teal,  sometimes  with  black- 
necked  stilt,  paying  little  heed  to  our  presence. 
The  return  flight  north  is  along  the  coasts,  where 
they  are  regularly  taken  every  spring,  but  in 


410  The  Water-fowl  Family 

rather  small  numbers,  and  the  large  body  un- 
doubtedly pass  through  the  interior,  up  the  Mis- 
sissippi Valley,  along  with  small  yellowlegs  and 
various  other  members  of  our  shore-bird  families. 
At  this  time  they  hurry  along,  spending  but  little 
time  en  route. 

On  the  marshes  of  Long  Island  and  New  Eng- 
land a  few  are  seen  late  in  April,  but  this  date 
is  early,  and  May  is  the  most  likely  time  for  the 
appearance  of  those  birds  passing  north  along 
the  coast. 

The  breeding-ground  is  in  the  far  North,  but 
a  few  birds  undoubtedly  rarely  nest  within  our 
boundaries.  Incubation  is  begun  in  June,  the 
birds  selecting  a  marsh  along  some  inland  lake 
or  perhaps  close  to  the  shore,  laying  their  eggs 
in  a  slight  depression  on  the  ground.  By  late 
July  the  young  are  left  to  care  for  themselves. 

GRAY    YELLOWLEGS 

(Tot anus  melanoleucus  frazari) 

Adult  in  breeding  plumage  —  Similar  to  T.  melanoleucus^  but  slightly 
larger ;  with  broader  white  edgings  to  the  feathers  of  the  upper 
parts,  especially  the  crown  and  nape ;  the  dark  markings  of  the 
lower  parts  extending  farther  over  the  abdomen  in  the  form  of 
broad  black  bars,  and  the  white  chin  invaded  by  small  black 
dots. 

Adults  and  young  in  'winter  —  Similar  to  T.  melanoleucus  but  "  much 
grayer,  the  white  streaks  of  the  nape  and  top  of  head  broader, 
the  dark  streaks  of  the  jugulum,  breast,  and  sides  of  neck  and 
the  dark  bars  on  the  sides  fewer,  finer,  and  fainter ;  the  sides  of 


Shore-bird  Shooting 


411 


the  head  whiter,  with  less  dark  mottling ;  "  the  feathers  of  back 
broadly  edged  with  ashy  white. 

Measurements — (Averages  of  seven  specimens),  length,  14. 20  inches ; 
wing,  7.65  inches;  oilmen,  2.25  inches;  tarsus,  2.60  inches. 

Habitat  —  Undetermined  ;  probably  breeds  in  western  British  Amer- 
ica and  British  Columbia,  and  passes  chiefly  through  western 
United  States  to  western  South  America  in  winter.  Occurs  in 
migration  in  Lower  California,  North  Dakota,  Massachusetts, 
South  Carolina,  and  Florida. 

This  race  of  the  greater  yellowlegs  has  been 
recently  described  by  Mr.  William  Brewster 
(Bulletin  of  the  Museum  of  Comparative  Zoology 
at  Harvard  College,  Vol.  XL  I,  No.  i,  p.  65)  from 
a  series  of  over  twenty  birds  in  winter  plumage 
that  were  collected  in  Lower  California,  by  Mr. 
M.  A.  Frazar,  in  the  fall  of  1887.  These  birds,  a 
number  of  which  I  have  seen,  thanks  to  the  kind- 
ness of  Mr.  Brewster,  all  closely  resemble  the  type, 
and  are  much  grayer  above,  with  much  broader, 
whitish  borders  to  the  feathers,  than  greater 
yellowlegs  from  the  Atlantic  Coast.  Mr.  Brewster 
states  that  he  has  seen  specimens  of  the  gray 
yellowlegs  from  South  Carolina  and  Florida,  and 
refers  to  this  form  three  young  yellowlegs  taken 
by  the  writer  on  Monomoy  Island,  Massachusetts, 
in  September,  1894.  In  this  I  thoroughly  agree, 
and  identify  also  with  it  an  adult  taken  there  in 
September,  1892,  and  two  adults  which  I  collected 
in  North  Dakota  in  the  spring  of  1895.  These 
birds  differ  noticeably  in  the  manner  described 
above  from  typical  examples  of  7",  melanoleucus 


412  The  Water-fowl  Family 

in  identical  phases  of  plumage  from  the  Atlantic 
Coast,  so  that  there  seems  little  doubt  ihatfrazari 
must  be  accepted  as  a  valid  subspecies. 

The  exact  range  of  this  bird  is  as  yet  undeter- 
mined, but  it  will  probably  prove  to  breed  west  of 
Hudson  Bay,  and  pass  chiefly  west  of  the  Missis- 
sippi in  migration.  Intermediates  occur  in  New 
England  in  spring.  That  the  greater  yellowlegs 
also  occurs  on  the  Pacific  Coast  is  proven  by  one 
that  Mr.  Brewster  has  seen  from  British  Columbia. 

LESSER   YELLOWLEGS 
(  Tot  anus  flavipes) 

Adult  male  and  female  in  breeding  plumage  —  Top  of  head  and 
neck,  streaked  with  black  on  a  grayish  ground,  and  edged  with 
white;  back  and  scapulars,  dark  ashy  mixed  with  irregular 
blotches  of  black  and  white;  primaries,  dark  brown;  upper 
tail-coverts,  pure  white  with  transverse  dusky  bars ;  tail,  white, 
central  feathers,  gray,  and  all  with  transverse  bars  of  ash ;  lower 
parts,  white;  the  jugulum  and  breast  profusely  streaked  with 
dusky ;  the  sides  marked  with  transverse  marks  of  the  same 
color. 

Adult  male  and  female  in  winter  plumage  —  Upper  parts,  ashy  gray, 
slightly  variegated  on  scapulars  and  wing-coverts  with  transverse 
spots  of  dusky,  the  feathers  margined  with  white ;  streaks  are 
almost  absent  from  the  head,  neck,  and  jugulum,  which  are  uni- 
form light  gray,  edged  with  white  ;  chin,  throat,  and  under  parts, 
white. 

Young —  Resembles  the  winter  plumage,  but  the  light  markings  on 
the  upper  parts  are  more  or  less  tinged  with  buff ;  bill,  black ; 
iris,  brown ;  legs  and  feet,  yellow. 

Downy  young — Upper  parts  and  thighs,  seal-brown;  many  of  the 
feathers  tipped  with  cream-buff;  forehead,  sides  of  head  and 
streaks  on  rump,  buffy  white  5  lines  on  forehead,  and  from  bill 


Shore-bird  Shooting  413 

through  eye  to  nape,  seal-brown ;  throat  and  abdomen,  white ; 
rest  of  lower  parts,  buffy  white. 

Measurements  —  Length,  11  inches;  wing,  6  inches;  culmen,  1.50 
inches  ;  tarsus,  2  inches. 

Eggs  —  Four  in  number ;  light  drab  in  color,  with  blotches  and  spots 
of  brown;  measure  1.68  by  1.12  inches. 

Habitat  —  Breeds  from  northern  Quebec,  Kenewatin,  and  Assiniboia, 
and  probably  British  Columbia,  to  the  Arctic  Coast  of  Alaska  and 
the  Barren  Grounds,  and  has  been  reported  breeding  in  western 
New  York,  Illinois,  and  in  Chili.  Winters  from  the  West 
Indies,  Florida,  Louisiana,  and  southern  California  to  Argen- 
tina, Chili,  and  Patagonia,  and  is  reported  in  Louisiana,  Argen- 
tina, and  Chili  through  all  the  year.  On  the  Atlantic  Coast  of 
the  United  States  it  is  common  in  fall,  but  very  rare  in  spring ; 
common  at  both  seasons  in  the  Mississippi  Valley,  and  rare 
west  of  the  Rocky  Mountains  south  of  British  Columbia.  It 
has  been  recorded  from  the  Pribilof  Islands,  Greenland,  and 
Great  Britain,  and  occurs  in  Bermuda. 

A  smaller  edition  of  the  greater  yellowlegs, 
this  bird  is  one  of  our  best-known  and  widely  dis- 
tributed shore-birds,  occurring  throughout  North 
America,  extending  generally  into  South  America 
as  far  as  Patagonia.  In  the  United  States  the 
lesser  yellowlegs  is  a  regular  summer  visitor  to 
the  marshes  that  line  the  Atlantic  Coast ;  arriv- 
ing early  in  August,  they  are  among  the  first  of 
our  shore-birds  to  start  the  procession  south.  On 
the  coast  in  the  salt-water  marshes  and  meadows, 
where  the  grass  is  short,  are  their  favorite  haunts, 
and  the  clear  note  of  a  summer  yellowleg  is  per- 
haps the  first  welcome  sound  in  the  early  morn- 
ing heard  from  the  blind  on  the  marsh.  Soon 
the  birds  are  in  evidence,  and,  if  within  hearing 


414  The  Water-fowl  Family 

distance,  can  usually  be  called  up  to  the  decoys ; 
if  permitted,  they  drop  among  the  stool  and  gaze 
at  the  wooden  snipe  in  blank  surprise.  After  the 
first  shot  the  flock  often  return,  and,  if  skilfully 
whistled,  hover  over  the  wounded  birds.  The 
readiness  with  which  they  court  destruction  has 
resulted  in  their  being  driven  from  many  of 
the  old-time  resorts,  and  this  common,  friendly 
bird  may  easily  become  rare.  The  young  of  the 
year  migrate  along  the  same  course  as  the  adults, 
but  appear  later,  usually  about  the  last  week  of 
August.  For  a  short  time  after  the  first  long 
flights  the  birds  are  in  poor  condition ;  but  they 
soon  fatten  on  their  favorite  feeding-grounds,  and 
the  dainty  flavor  of  the  flesh  is  highly  esteemed. 
In  the  summer  the  lesser  yellowlegs  pass  along 
through  the  United  States,  in  the  interior  as  well 
as  along  the  coast.  The  return  flight,  however, 
in  the  spring  is  made  by  the  shortest  route  to  the 
breeding-grounds,  the  birds  following  along  the 
Mississippi  Valley  and  the  larger  adjacent  water- 
courses, north  into  the  fur  countries.  These  are 
reached  in  June,  and  here  they  scatter  through  the 
smaller  lakes  and  rivers  of  the  Arctic  regions, 
breeding  on  the  shores  and  marshes.  The  eggs 
are  laid  on  the  ground  with  hardly  the  formality 
of  a  nest.  At  this  season  the  yellowlegs,  after  the 
custom  of  many  other  of  our  shore-birds,  changes 
to  a  certain  extent  its  ordinary  habit,  often  perch- 


Shore-bird  Shooting  415 

ing  on  trees  and  bushes,  if  there  are  such  in  the 
vicinity  of  the  nest.  The  note  is  varied  and  both 
birds  become  very  noisy,  resenting  with  loud  cries 
any  approach  near  the  nest.  The  young  are 
hatched  in  July  and  rapidly  attain  the  age  of 
looking  out  for  themselves,  for  by  the  end  of  the 
month  the  old  birds  leave  them  and  gather  in  the 
first  migratory  flocks. 

COMMON    REDSHANK 
(Tot anus  tot  anus) 

Male  and  female  in  breeding  plumage  —  Upper  parts,  grayish  brown ; 
scapulars  and  interscapulars,  spotted  with  black  and  notched 
with  buff;  lesser  wing-coverts,  edged  with  light  gray;  lower 
back,  rump,  and  upper  tail-coverts,  white,  the  last  barred  with 
black;  crown,  dark  brown,  feathers  edged  with  buff;  lores, 
blackish ;  primaries,  blackish  brown,  the  inner  feathers  tipped 
with  whitish,  which  is  barred  with  brown;  outer  secondaries, 
white;  inner  secondaries,  brown,  mottled  with  white;  tail, 
white,  barred  with  blackish,  the  central  feathers  chiefly  brownish  ; 
sides  of  head,  neck,  and  entire  under  parts,  white,  spotted  and 
barred  with  dusky,  except  in  centre  of  abdomen ;  bill,  black,  red 
near  base ;  feet,  bright  orange-red ;  iris,  brown. 

Male  and  female  in  winter — Similar,  but  upper  parts,  including 
wing-coverts  and  the  inner  secondaries,  dark  grayish  brown ; 
dark  markings  on  face  and  lower  parts,  fewer ;  fore  neck,  chest, 
and  sides  of  breast,  uniform  ashy  brown;  bill,  dark  brown; 
feet,  yellow. 

Young —  Similar  to  winter  plumage  of  adults,  but  more  spotted  above, 
with  reddish  brown  at  the  edges  of  the  feathers,  and  white  or 
fulvous  markings  on  wing-coverts  and  inner  secondaries ;  fore 
neck  and  breast,  irregularly  spotted  with  brown. 

Downy  young — Above,  reddish,  striped  longitudinally  with  black 
through  eye,  centre  of  crown,  nape,  hind  neck,  and  centre  of 
back ;  centre  of  crown,  rufous ;  sides  of  head  and  lines  on  back, 
buff, 


416  The  Water-fowl  Family 

Measurements  —  Length,  9.75  inches;  wing,  6  inches;  tail,  2.40 
inches;  culmen,  1.50  inches;  tarsus,  1.65  inches. 

Eggs  —  Four;  pyriform;  buff,  spotted  with  dark  brown  and  gray; 
measure  1.75  by  1.25  inches. 

Habitat  —  Breeds  in  Iceland,  the  Faroe  Islands,  throughout  Europe, 
northern  Africa,  Asia  Minor,  Turkestan,  and  Siberia,  south  of 
55°.  Winters  in  Great  Britain,  northern  Europe,  throughout 
Africa,  and  southern  Asia  from  India  to  China,  Japan,  the 
Philippines,  and  the  Malay  Archipelago.  This  species  was 
recorded  from  Hudson  Bay,  in  Swainson  and  Richardson's 
"Fauna  Boreali-Americana,"  in  1831. 

The  redshank  is  one  of  the  commonest  shore- 
birds,  breeding  in  Great  Britain,  seeking  the  re- 
tired marshes  for  a  summer  home,  and  laying  in 
April  and  May.  The  nest  is  carefully  hidden 
in  a  tuft  of  grass,  the  grass  stems  often  being 
drawn  together  over  it,  and  the  bird  enters  and 
leaves  the  nest  on  the  side  and  walks  away,  so 
that  hardly  anything  remains  to  show  the  location. 
The  parents  are  very  noisy  when  the  nest  is  ap- 
proached and  leave  it  long  before  any  one  draws 
near.  When  mating  the  male  often  soars  in  the 
air,  making  a  trill,  or  bows  and  struts  before  his 
mate,  spreading  his  wings  and  tail ;  sometimes  the 
bird  goes  through  the  latter  performance  walking 
a  fence  rail. 

SOLITARY    SANDPIPER 
(Helodromas  solitarius') 

Adult  male  and  female  in  breeding  plumage  —  Upper  parts,  olive- 
slate,  speckled  slightly  with  white;  top  of  head  and  neck, 
Streaked  with  white ;  outer  upper  tail-coverts,  barred  with  white  ; 
primaries  and  coverts?  slate-black ;  tail,  white,  central  feathers 


Shore-bird  Shooting  417 

dusky,  all  the  feathers  crossed  with  dark  bars ;  eyelids,  supra- 
loral  stripe,  and  lower  parts,  white;  the  sides  of  head,  neck 
entire,  and  jugulum,  streaked  with  brownish  slate;  remaining 
lower  parts,  white ;  lining  of  wing  and  axillars,  slate,  irregularly 
barred  with  white. 

Adult  male  and  female  in  winter  plumage  —  Upper  parts,  dark  ashy, 
less  distinctly  speckled ;  neck,  very  indistinctly  streaked  with 
ashy,  otherwise  similar  to  breeding  plumage. 

Young — Upper  parts,  grayish  brown,  thickly  speckled  with  pale 
buff;  crown  and  neck,  plain  brownish  gray;  cheeks  and  sides 
of  neck,  gray  streaked  with  dusky ;  bill,  dusky  ;  iris,  brown  ;  legs 
and  feet,  olive. 

Measurements  —  Length,  8.50  inches;  wing,  5.25  inches;  culmen, 
1.25  inches;  tarsus,  1.25  inches;  middle  toe,  I  inch. 

Eggs  —  Not  described. 

Habitat  —  Recorded  in  the  breeding  season  in  Louisiana,  from  the 
mountains  of  Maryland,  Pennsylvania,  New  York,  Kentucky, 
and  Colorado,  and  from  Massachusetts,  Maine,  New  Hampshire, 
Vermont,  Ohio,  Indiana,  Illinois,  Minnesota,  and  Kansas,  north 
to  northern  Labrador,  Hudson  Bay,  Fort  Simpson,  and  Kotzebue 
Sound,  Alaska.  Winters  from  the  West  Indies  south  to  Uruguay, 
Argentina,  and  Peru.  Common  in  migrations  about  small  bodies 
of  water  in  the  United  States  west  to  the  Rocky  Mountains, 
replaced  beyond  them,  as  a  rule,  by  the  western  subspecies. 
Recorded  from  Bermuda,  Lower  California,  British  Columbia, 
Greenland,  and  Great  Britain. 

Sometimes  called  the  wood  tattler,  this  dainty 
sandpiper  is  most  often  found  along  the  shores  of 
our  wooded  lakes,  —  sometimes  alone,  usually  in  a 
small  flock.  We  find  them  often  at  a  high  alti- 
tude in  the  mountains.  Little  mud-holes  filled 
with  old  stumps  and  logs,  the  shores  lined  with 
dead  wet  leaves,  are  their  favorite  haunts.  Here 
they  run  about  from  place  to  place,  searching  for 
little  grubs  and  worms  that  such  locations  abound 

2  E 


418  The  Water-fowl  Family 

in.  When  startled,  teetering  the  body  as  if  to 
gaze  at  the  intruder  from  all  points  of  view,  then 
darting  through  the  air  on  graceful  flight,  they 
utter  as  they  start  a  high-pitched,  mournful  note, 
and  pass  on  over  the  tree-tops  to  some  other  pool, 
where  no  disturber  interferes  with  their  affairs. 
Sometimes  on  these  ponds  in  the  woods  we  come 
across  a  solitary  sandpiper,  quietly  walking  over 
the  soft  mud,  unconscious  of  danger;  silent  and 
still  as  if  affected  by  the  solitude  of  the  place,  yet 
in  the  jaunty  manner  of  its  flight,  changing  its 
character  and  giving  expression  to  the  happiness 
of  life.  In  the  spring  of  the  year,  by  early  April, 
we  find  them  in  their  solitary  resorts  tarrying 
awhile,  then  disappearing  to  breed  and  raise  their 
young,  no  one  knows  where. 

The  young  birds  appear  in  September  and  at 
this  time  rarely  straggle  out  on  the  marshes  and 
flats  in  company  of  other  shore-birds. 

The  solitary  sandpiper  undoubtedly  breeds  as 
far  south  as  our  northern  boundary,  and  it  is  a 
strange  fact  there  are  no  more  satisfactory  rec- 
ords of  its  nesting.  The  instance  of  a  single  egg, 
found  at  Lake  Bombazine,  Vermont,  by  Jenness 
Richardson,  is  questioned.  This  egg  was  seen  by 
Mr.  C.  A.  Sheldon,  who  was  with  Mr.  Richardson 
at  the  time,  and  in  his  opinion  the  identification 
is  doubtful. 

At  its  breeding-grounds  this  bird  has  a  song 


Shore-bird  Shooting  419 

flight  resembling  that  of  many  other  shore-birds. 
The  male  wheels  high  in  air  on  rapidly  beating 
wings,  uttering  often  a  weak  song,  and  then 
alights  on  the  top  of  some  spruce. 

A  set  of  five  eggs  ascribed  to  this  species,  the 
parent  of  which  was  seen  closely  but  not  secured, 
was  taken  on  an  island  in  Lake  Ontario,  June 
10,  1898.  The  eggs,  averaging  1.32  inches  long 
by  .95  inch  wide,  had,  when  found,  a  dark  reddish 
ground  color  with  faint  purple  markings  and 
grotesque  brown  figures,  scattered  over  the  shell, 
and  were  laid  on  the  ground  in  a  hilly  field  near 
the  lake. 

WESTERN    SOLITARY    SANDPIPER 

(Helodromas  solitarius  cinnamomeus) 

Similar  to  the  solitary  sandpiper,  but  "  larger,  wings  grayer,  the  light 
spots  on  the  back,  scapulars,  and  wing-coverts,  brownish  cinna- 
mon instead  of  white  or  buflfy  whitish ;  the  sides  of  the  head 
with  more  whitish,  especially  on  lores.  No  well-defined  loral 
stripe."  The  outer  primary  is  mottled  with  ashy  white  some 
distance  beyond  the  tips  of  the  under  primary  coverts,  this 
marking  seldom  occurring  in  solitary  sandpipers  taken  in  the 
East.  The  differences  in  color  are  more  pronounced  in  young 
birds  in  juvenile  plumage. 

Habitat  —  Found  in  the  breeding  season  from  the  interior  of  British 
Columbia,  north  to  the  upper  Yukon  in  Alaska,  and  recorded  in 
migrations  from  California  and  Lower  California  to  Montana, 
North  Dakota,  and  Arizona.  The  exact  limits  of  the  range  of 
this  subspecies  are  as  yet  doubtful,  but  in  winter  it  probably 
ranges  south  to  Peru. 

The  habits  of  this  bird  are  like  those  of  the 
eastern  subspecies. 


420  The  Water-fowl  Family 

GREEN    SANDPIPER 
(Helodromas  ochropus) 

Adult  male  and  female  in  breeding  plumage  —  Head  and  neck,  striped 
with  dark  brown  and  white ;  upper  parts,  olive-brown,  with  white 
spots ;  upper  tail-coverts,  pure  white,  middle  feathers,  barred 
with  black  toward  tip ;  chin,  throat,  and  under  parts,  white, 
dusky  streaks  on  fore  neck  and  breast ;  bill,  dusky ;  legs  and 
feet,  bluish  gray,  green  at  the  joints. 

Adult  male  and  female  in  winter  plumage  —  Head  and  neck,  gray- 
ish brown,  without  spots,  —  these  are  also  faint  on  the  upper 
parts ;  white  superciliary  stripe ;  otherwise  similar  to  breeding 
plumage. 

Young —  Similar  to  adult  in  winter ;  but  feathers  of  upper  parts  nar- 
rowly edged  with  ashy  bronze. 

Downy  young —  Upper  parts,  grayish  buff  and  rufous,  spotted  with 
black ;  a  broad  black  band  extends  from  crown  to  rump,  and 
narrow  black  stripes,  from  bill  through  eye  to  nape,  on  side  of 
crown,  and  side  of  body ;  lower  parts,  white. 

Measurements  —  Length,  10  inches;  wing,  5.25  inches;  culmen, 
1.25  inches;  tarsus,  1.25  inches. 

Eggs  —  Four ;  pyriform ;  creamy  white  to  greenish  white,  spotted  with 
dark  reddish  brown  and  pale  grayish  brown;  measure  1.50  by 
i.io  inches. 

Habitat  —  Breeds  in  the  mountains  of  southern  and  central  Europe, 
in  Scandinavia,  Russia,  and  Siberia,  south  to  Turkestan.  Win- 
ters in  southern  Europe,  central  Africa,  India,  Malay  Archi- 
pelago, China,  and  Japan.  Has  been  recorded  from  Hudson 
Bay  and  Nova  Scotia,  in  North  America. 

In  its  habits  in  the  winter  in  Egypt,  the  green 
sandpiper  much  resembles  our  solitary  sandpiper, 
never  occurring  in  flocks,  and  frequenting  the 
irrigation  ditches  and  the  muddy  pools  left  by 
the  retreating  Nile. 

In  the  breeding  season  this  species  frequents 
retired  ponds,  surrounded  by  woodland,  and  breeds 


Shore-bird  Shooting  421 

in  May.  The  eggs  are  laid  in  the  deserted  nest 
of  some  jay,  crow,  or  thrush,  and  at  a  height  of 
from  three  to  forty  feet  from  the  ground. 

WILLET 

(Symphemia  semipalmata) 

Adult  male  and  female  in  breeding  plumage  —  Upper  parts,  light 
brownish  gray ;  head  and  neck,  streaked  with  dusky ;  back  and 
wing-coverts,  spotted  and  barred  with  blackish ;  under  parts, 
white,  tinged  with  gray  on  the  neck,  with  buff  on  the  sides  ;  the 
sides  with  the  jugulum  and  breast,  spotted  and  barred  with 
dusky ;  upper  tail-coverts,  white ;  tail,  ash-gray,  mottled  with 
darker;  axillars  and  lining  of  wings,  sooty  black. 

Adidt  male  and  female  in  winter  plumage  —  Upper  parts,  ash-gray ; 
under  parts,  dull  white.  Neck,  in  front  shaded  with  gray. 

Young — Upper  parts,  brownish  gray,  the  feathers  margined  with 
buff;  sides,  tinged  with  the  same  color,  and  finely  mottled  with 
gray  ;  bill,  gray,  dusky  at  its  end  ;  iris,  brown  ;  feet,  gray  blue ; 
claws,  black. 

Downy  young — Upper  parts,  brownish  gray,  spotted  with  dusky; 
dusky  lines  on  lores,  and  from  eye  to  occiput  and  nape ;  fore- 
head, sides  of  head,  and  lower  parts,  dull  white. 

Measurements  —  Length,  15  inches;  wing,  7.35  inches;  culmen, 
2. 20  inches  ;  tarsus,  2.30  inches  ;  tail,  2.90  inches. 

Eggs  —  Four  in  number;  color,  light  gray,  with  fine  dottings  of 
dark  bistre;  measure  2  inches  by  1.50  inches. 

Habitat — Breeds  on  the  Bahamas,  and  from  Florida,  north  to  New 
Jersey,  and  irregularly  to  Massachusetts  and  Michigan  (?). 
Winters  from  Florida,  rarely  North  Carolina,  the  Bahamas,  and 
West  Indies,  south  to  Brazil.  Formerly  recorded  on  the  Atlan- 
tic Coast,  north  to  Newfoundland,  but  now,  apparently,  the 
majority  of  birds  taken  in  the  fall  on  the  Atlantic  Coast  north  of 
Virginia  belong  to  the  western  subspecies.  Has  occurred  in 
Bermuda  and  Europe. 

One     of     our    best-known    shore-birds,     now 
separated   into   two   forms,  the  eastern  and    the 


422  The  Water-fowl  Family 

western.  While  the  western  variety  seems  to 
average  somewhat  larger  and  has  certain  slight 
plumage  differences,  the  two  types  grade  into  one 
another,  and  these  distinctions  are  not  always 
satisfactory.  On  the  eastern  coast  the  willet 
ranges  from  Nova  Scotia  to  Florida  and  along  the 
Gulf  of  Mexico,  but  is  rare  north  of  Massachusetts. 
It  breeds  throughout  these  limits  sparingly,  how- 
ever, north  of  Florida.  In  our  Eastern  states 
this  species  has  been  markedly  decimated  in  the 
past  few  years,  and  not  having  the  protection  of 
the  seclusion  the  far  North  affords  to  most  of  our 
shore-birds  in  their  nesting  time,  it  will  presently 
be  rare  everywhere  in  the  eastern  United  States. 
A  few  years  ago  willet  bred  commonly  on  the 
coast  from  Virginia  to  New  Jersey.  Now  a  few 
pairs  are  seen  over  an  area  formerly  inhabited  by 
hundreds.  In  1898  I  found  several  pairs  at  Cobb's 
Island,  breeding  on  a  small  strip  of  marsh,  just 
inside  the  ocean  beach.  When  this  was  ap- 
proached the  birds  exhibited  the  greatest  excite- 
ment flying  within  range  and  uttering  shrill 
discordant  cries.  When  on  the  wing  it  is  grace- 
ful and  speedy,  the  black  and  white  mottling  of 
the  wings  presenting  a  striking  appearance.  On 
alighting  the  bird  runs  a  short  distance,  then 
watches  intently  the  object  of  suspicion,  leaving 
at  the  slightest  provocation.  The  nest  is  com- 
posed of  grass  placed  on  the  dry  ground  in  the 


WILLETS 


Shore-bird  Shooting  423 

salt  marshes,  sometimes  built  up  to  a  height  of  a 
few  inches.  The  eggs  are  always  four  in  number. 
Incubation  is  begun  late  in  May.  The  flesh  of 
the  willet  has  never  been  esteemed,  but  the 
eggs  were  regularly  robbed  by  the  natives,  who 
considered  them  a  delicacy.  This  destruction  of 
the  eggs  in  the  old  breeding  localities  undoubtedly 
goes  far  to  explain  the  present  scarcity  of  the  bird. 
One  of  the  gunners  at  Cobb's  Island  told  me  it 
was  no  uncommon  thing  in  years  gone  by  to  fill  a 
small  basket  with  willet 's  eggs.  Crows  occasionally 
invade  the  nesting  territory,  causing  consternation 
and  excitement,  the  birds  all  combining  to  drive 
off  the  intruders.  The  young  are  cared  for  with 
the  greatest  devotion;  few  parents  are  more 
persistent  in  their  attention.  Late  in  July,  full 
fledged,  we  see  them  sometimes  in  small  flocks, 
or  with  gulls  and  other  smaller  birds,  often  alone. 
They  feed  on  various  aquatic  insects  and  little 
shellfish  and  crabs.  The  young  birds  are  not 
particularly  wild,  and,  if  by  themselves,  can  fre- 
quently be  coaxed  within  range  by  imitation  of 
the  note,  a  shrill  pill-will-willet.  It  is  rather 
exceptional  for  decoys  to  attract  them,  although  at 
times  they  fly  overhead.  The  plumage  of  the  birds 
in  the  first  year  is  a  soft  gray  and  white,  having 
the  same  peculiar  black  and  white  wing  markings 
as  the  adult.  A  few  years  ago  numbers  of  young 
willet  were  shot  regularly  off  Cape  Cod  in  early 


424  The  Water-fowl  Family 

August ;  north  of  this  point  less  often,  increasing 
in  abundance  from  Long  Island  south.  Now  a 
few  odd  birds  are  all  that  are  seen.  It  is  met 
with  throughout  the  interior  to  the  middle  of  the 
United  States,  and  often  on  the  marshes  has  the 
reputation  of  acting  as  sentinel  for  other  birds  in 
the  vicinity,  quickly  sounding  the  alarm  and 
starting  the  flock.  In  winter  the  willet  is  found 
on  the  larger  West  Indian  Islands,  south  to 
Brazil. 

WESTERN    WILLET 
(Symphemia  semipalmata  inornatd) 

Adult  male  and  female  in  breeding  plumage  —  Similar  to  S.  semi- 
Palmata^  but  the  dark  markings  on  the  upper  parts,  fewer,  finer, 
and  fainter,  on  a  paler  ground  ;  those  on  the  under  parts,  duller 
and  more  irregular ;  middle  tail  feathers,  white  or  faintly  barred  ; 
bill,  longer  and  slenderer. 

Winter  plumage  and  young — Similar  in  the  two  varieties. 

Measurements  —  Length,  15.25  inches;  wing,  8.10  inches;  tail, 
3.30  inches;  tarsus,  2.65  inches;  oilmen,  2.65  inches. 

Eggs  —  Not  distinguishable  from  the  eastern  variety. 

Habitat  —  Breeds  from  Louisiana  and  Texas  north  to  Manitoba, 
Athabasca,  and  Alberta,  and  west  to  Oregon,  Nevada  (?),  Utah, 
and  Colorado.  Winters  on  the  Gulf  Coast  of  Florida,  and  from 
Louisiana,  Texas,  and  southern  California,  south  into  Mexico. 
In  the  fall  migration  occurs  on  the  Atlantic  Coast  from  New 
England  south,  and  in  British  Columbia  and  California,  and 
has  been  doubtfully  recorded  in  summer  from  the  Yukon  Valley. 

This  variety  resembles  the  eastern  bird,  but 
is  somewhat  larger  and  generally  can  be  dis- 
tinguished by  its  longer  bill.  The  plumage 
differences  are  unreliable.  The  western  willet  is 


Shore-bird  Shooting  425 

common  in  the  western  United  States,  Texas,  and 
California.  Along  the  west  coast  it  is  very  nu- 
merous, and  in  locations  is  plentiful  throughout 
the  year.  This  bird  is  abundant  on  the  prairie, 
frequenting  the  sloughs  and  small  alkali  lakes. 
In  all  of  its  habits  it  closely  resembles  the  eastern 
species.  In  the  breeding  season  if  one  approaches 
the  nesting-place  of  a  pair  of  these  birds,  —  gen- 
erally some  small  slough  on  the  prairie,  —  he  is 
deafened  by  an  unearthly  clamor ;  first  one,  then 
both  birds,  diving  for  his  head  and  shrieking  pill- 
willet  until  he  decides  to  leave. 

WANDERING   TATTLER 
(Heteractitis  incanus) 

Adult  male  and  female  in  breeding  plumage  —  Upper  parts,  dark 
lead  color ;  primaries,  dark  brown,  with  white  shafts  ;  superciliary 
stripe,  sides  of  face,  white,  finely  streaked  with  dark  gray; 
throat,  white,  spotted  with  dark  gray ;  rest  of  under  parts,  white, 
barred  with  plumbeous ;  bill,  dusky ;  feet  and  legs,  greenish 
yellow. 

Adult  male  and  female  in  winter  plumage  —  Upper  parts,  plumbe- 
ous ;  lower  parts,  white,  washed  with  plumbeous  on  sides  and 
across  jugulum. 

Young  —  Resembles  the  winter  plumage,  but  secondaries,  scapulars, 
and  upper  tail-coverts  indistinctly  margined  with  white,  and  the 
plumbeous  of  sides  faintly  mottled  with  white. 

Measurements  —  Length,  8  inches;  wing,  6.50  inches ;  culmen,  1.50 
inches;  tarsus,  1.25  inches;  middle  toe,  I  inch. 

Eggs  —  Not  described. 

Habitat  —  Breeding  range  unknown,  but  a  statement  that  it  breeds 
commonly  in  British  Columbia  is  probably  a  mistake.  Occurs 
on  the  coast  of  Alaska,  from  Lynn  Canal  to  Bering  Straits, 
Kamchatka,  northeastern  Siberia,  and  the  Aleutian,  Pribilof,  and 


426  The  Water-Jowl  Family 

Commander  islands  in  migration,  in  late  May  and  early  June, 
and  late  July,  August,  and  September.  Ranges  south  on  the 
Pacific  Coast  of  North  America,  occurring  as  far  inland  as 
Hudson  Bay  and  Crater  Lake,  Oregon ;  and  winters  from 
Lower  California  south  to  the  Galapagos,  Hawaii,  and  islands 
of  Oceanica,  and  is  found  on  the  Hawaiian  Islands  throughout 
the  year. 

A  bird  of  wide  range,  the  wandering  tattler 
traverses  the  Pacific  Coast  from  the  tropics  to  the 
Aleutian  Islands  and  into  the  interior  of  Alaska, 
along  the  watercourses.  It  breeds  on  the  Pacific 
islands  within  the  Arctic  circle,  but  the  nest  and 
eggs  have  not  been  found.  Usually  alone,  this 
bird  is  sometimes  seen  in  small  flocks,  and  fre- 
quents the  rocky  shores,  running  gracefully  at 
the  edge  of  the  water  and  feeding  on  the  minute 
shellfish  and  animal  life  among  the  seaweed.  It 
is  gentle,  and  when  approached  runs  ahead  out 
of  reach  or  flies  a  short  distance,  uttering  a  shrill 
note,  then  lighting  to  stop  and  gaze  at  its  dis- 
turber. By  September  they  leave  for  their  winter 
homes,  returning  again  in  May  to  the  snow  and 
ice  of  the  North. 

RUFF 

(Pavoncella  pugnaoc) 

Adult  male  in  breeding  plumage  —  Head,  neck,  and  upper  parts, 
chestnut,  barred  with  black,  or  buff  and  gray,  barred  with  black  ; 
under  parts,  white  with  variations  on  jugulum  and  throat ;  pri- 
maries, dark  brown  with  greenish  reflections ;  inner  webs, 
finely  mottled  ;  outer  three  tail  feathers,  plain  brown  ;  remainder, 
transversely  barred  ;  sides  of  rump,  white  ;  feathers  of  the  neck, 


Shore-bird  Shooting  427 

greatly  developed  into  a  ruff,  the  face  covered  with  reddish 
papillae.  In  coloring,  this  ruff  varies  greatly  from  glossy  black 
to  white,  with  all  shades  of  brown  and  buff  and  mixtures  be- 
tween. The  cape  shows  the  same  variation.  In  the  winter 
plumage  the  male  has  no  ruff. 

Adult  female  —  Without  the  ruff,  head  completely  feathered ;  plu- 
mage, banded  transversely  with  black  and  buff  or  white ;  abdo- 
men, generally  white. 

Young — Upper  parts,  brownish  black,  feathers  bordered  with  buff; 
crown,  streaked  with  black ;  lower  parts,  white  with  a  buff 
tinge  anteriorly  ;  bill,  brown  ;  iris,  brown  ;  legs,  yellow. 

Measurements  —  Length,  10  to  12  inches;  wing,  6.50  inches;  oil- 
men, 1.50  inches;  tarsus,  1.75  inches;  middle  toe,  1.25  inches. 

Eggs  —  Four  in  number ;  greenish  gray,  spotted  with  brown,  meas- 
ure i. 60  by  1. 10 'inches. 

Habitat  —  Breeds  from  Great  Britain,  Holland,  and  the  Danube 
River,  east  through  Russia  to  central  Siberia,  and  north  to 
the  Arctic  Ocean.  Winters  throughout  Africa  and  in  India 
and  Burma.  Wanders  east  to  the  Commander  Islands, 
Japan,  and  Borneo,  and  west  to  Spanish  Guiana,  Barbadoes, 
and  eastern  North  America,  where  some  fourteen  specimens 
have  been  taken,  in  New  Brunswick,  Maine,  Massachusetts, 
New  York,  New  Jersey,  Virginia,  North  Carolina,  Ohio,  and 
Ontario. 


This  species  is  the  most  remarkable  of  the 
Limicolae,  not  only  from  the  long  ruff  of  many 
colors,  ranging  from  deep  black  to  pure  white, 
through  many  shades  of  chestnut,  brown,  and 
gray,  often  barred  with  darker  shades,  and  the 
black  glossed  with  violet  or  green,  or  spangled 
with  white  or  gold,  and  the  white  barred  with 
white  or  rufous,  which  is  assumed  by  the  male  in 
the  breeding  season,  but  also  for  its  polygamous 
habits,  each  male  taking  as  many  wives  as  he  can 


428  The  Water-fowl  Family 

protect  from  his  rivals.  The  ruffs  "  hill,"  that  is, 
assemble  in  the  early  morning  on  some  rising 
ground  near  a  marsh  where  the  reeves  have  de- 
cided to  lay,  and  contend  with  each  other  like 
game-cocks,  striking  at  each  other  with  the  beak, 
with  head  lowered,  the  bill  horizontal,  and  the  ruff 
extended  and  held  before  the  breast  as  a  shield. 
In  former  times  the  males  were  netted  during 
these  spring  combats,  a  drop-net  being  set  over 
the  spot  where  they  assembled,  and  a  stuffed  bird 
used  as  a  decoy;  by  this  means,  it  is  said,  every 
male  about  a  marsh  could  be  caught.  The  birds 
taken  were  fattened  for  market,  eating  greedily 
as  soon  as  caught.  By  most  submissive  behavior, 
too,  the  ruff  seeks  to  win  the  reeve,  throwing  him- 
self on  the  ground  before  her,  every  feather  on 
his  body  standing  and  quivering ;  but  as  soon  as 
the  eggs  are  laid  he  deserts  his  wives  and  families 
and  joins  other  males  in  a  renewal  of  the  freedom 
of  his  bachelor  existence. 

BARTRAMIAN    SANDPIPER 
(Bartramia  longicaudd) 

Male  and  female  in  breeding  plumage  —  Top  of  head,  back,  and 
scapulars,  dusky,  the  feathers,  marked  with  brown  and  margined 
with  buff;  lores  and  space  around  eye,  pale  buff;  rest  of  head 
and  neck,  bright  buff,  spotted  with  dark  brown ;  greater  wing- 
coverts,  brown,  barred  on  inner  web  and  bordered  with  white ; 
lesser  wing-coverts,  brown,  barred  with  dusky  and  bordered 
with  bright  buff;  primaries  and  secondaries,  dark  brown,  barred 


Shore-bird  Shooting  429 

on  inner  web,  and  secondaries  tipped  with  white ;  tertiaries, 
dark  brown,  barred  with  black  and  edged  with  buff:  lower  back, 
rump,  and  central  upper  tail-coverts,  black ;  lateral  tail-coverts, 
black  at  base,  then  buff,  barred  with  black  and  edged  with 
white ;  middle  tail  feathers  slate-gray,  barred  with  black,  edged 
with  white ;  the  other  tail  feathers  buff,  edged  with  white, 
spotted  with  black,  and  with  a  subterminal  bar  of  black; 
lower  parts,  buffy  white,  deepest  on  lower  neck  and  breast, 
where  spotted  and  irregularly  barred  with  dark  brown,  these 
bars  extending  on  sides ,  bill,  brownish  black,  yellowish  at 
base;  feet  and  legs,  yellowish. 

Young —  Similar,  but  buff  everywhere  deeper  and  approaching 
ochraceous  buff  on  head,  sides  of  neck,  and  outer  edges  of 
tertials  and  upper  wing-coverts. 

Downy  young — Upper  parts,  grayish  white,  irregularly  spotted  with 
black ;  dusky  spots  on  lores,  auriculars,  cheeks,  and  flanks ; 
lower  parts,  buffy  white. 

Measurements  —  Length,  12  inches;  wing,  6.50  inches;  culmen,  1.25 
inches  ;  tarsus,  2  inches. 

Eggs  —  Three  or  four ;  clay  color,  spotted  with  brown  and  purplish 
gray;  measure  1.75  by  1.25  inches. 

Habitat — Breeds  from  Virginia,  West  Virginia,  Ohio,  Indiana, 
Illinois,  Kansas,  and  Colorado,  north  to  Maine,  Ontario,  the 
Barren  Grounds,  Saskatchewan,  Athabasca,  and  probably  the 
Yukon  Valley  to  Fort  Yukon,  west  to  the  Rocky  Mountains, 
Montana,  Idaho,  Oregon,  and  probably  Utah.  Winters  rarely  in 
Florida  and  Louisiana,  and  south  through  South  America  to 
Uruguay,  Argentina,  and  Chili.  In  the  migrations  occurs  chiefly 
between  the  Rocky  Mountains  and  the  Mississippi,  but  also  to 
the  entire  Atlantic  Coast,  north  to  Nova  Scotia,  Newfoundland, 
and  Quebec,  the  Bermudas  and  West  Indies,  and  west  to 
Vancouver  Island,  British  Columbia,  New  Mexico,  and  Arizona. 
Rare  in  the  northeastern  part  of  its  range.  Has  been  recorded 
frequently  from  Great  Britain  and  Europe,  and  once  from 
Australia. 


This  species  is  fully  described  in  the  "  Upland 
Game-Birds  "  volume  of  this  library. 


43°  The  Water-fowl  Family 

BUFF-BREASTED    SANDPIPER 
(Tryngites  subruficollis) 

Adult  male  and  female  in  breeding  plumage  —  Upper  parts,  dull 
ochraceous  with  a  tinge  of  gray,  each  feather  with  a  spot  of 
black ;  often  there  is  a  glossy  greenish  tinge  on  the  back ; 
under  parts,  pale  fawn  color,  palest  on  the  abdomen  and  sides, 
many  of  the  feathers  tipped  with  white ;  axillary  feathers, 
white ;  middle  tail  feathers,  brown ;  outer  feathers,  lighter,  with 
transverse  lines  of  black  on  the  terminal  half,  tipped  with  white  ; 
under  primary  coverts,  marbled  with  black  ;  bill,  greenish  black ; 
legs,  greenish  yellow  ;  iris,  brown. 

Young —  Similar,  but  the  upper  parts  have  the  black  and  fawn  color 
less  sharply  contrasted,  and  each  feather  is  bordered  with  white  ; 
the  marbling  on  the  inner  webs  of  primaries  and  on  under- 
coverts,  more  minute  than  in  the  adult. 

Measurements  —  Length,  8  inches;  wing,  5.50  inches;  culmen,  .75 
inch;  tarsus,  1.25  inches;  middle  toe,  .75  inch. 

Eggs  —  Four  in  number;  ground  color,  ashy  drab,  blotched,  and 
streaked  with  spots  of  dark  sepia;  measure  1.50  by  i.io  inches. 

Habitat  —  Breeds  on  the  Barren  Grounds  and  the  Arctic  Coast  east 
of  the  Anderson  River,  and  at  Point  Barrow,  Alaska,  and  prob- 
ably in  northeastern  Siberia ;  is  reported  a  resident  in  British 
Columbia,  and  is  said  to  have  nested  in  Ontario,  —  this  last 
doubtless  a  mistake.  Winters  in  South  America  to  Uruguay 
and  Peru,  and  is  said  to  winter  on  the  coast  of  Louisiana.  In 
migrations  in  the  United  States,  tolerably  common  in  the  Mis- 
sissippi Valley,  and  in  the  fall  occasionally  east  to  the  Atlantic 
Coast  from  Nova  Scotia  to  South  Carolina ;  to  the  west  of  the 
Mississippi  states  unrecorded,  except  in  Texas  and  from  Wash- 
ington north  to  the  Yukon,  Alaska.  Stragglers  have  occurred 
in  the  West  Indies,  Bermuda,  Sea  of  Okhotsk,  and  frequently 
in  western  Europe. 

While  this  species  has  a  general  distribution, 
it  is  more  common  in  the  interior  than  on  the 
coast.  The  buff-breasted  sandpiper  closely  re- 
sembles the  upland  plover  in  appearance,  and  to 


Shore-bird  Shooting  431 

a  certain  extent  in  habits.  A  specimen  was  once 
given  to  me  by  a  Long  Island  gunner,  who  called 
it  a  young  upland  plover,  and  said  he  usually 
killed  several  during  the  season.  On  the  Atlan- 
tic Coast  the  bird  is  rare,  and  usually  occurs  by 
itself,  or  in  company  with  pectoral  sandpipers, 
exceptionally  in  flocks.  On  the  shores  of  the 
Canadian  provinces  it  is  still  more  uncommon, 
but  has  been  taken  near  Halifax  and  Pictou  and 
is  recorded  from  Prince  Edward's  Island.  In  sev- 
eral years'  experience  with  the  shore  shooting  on 
the  Magdalen  Islands,  I  know  of  only  one  instance 
of  its  capture ;  this  was  in  early  September,  and 
the  bird  was  shot  among  a  large  flock  of  pectoral 
sandpipers.  In  the  New  England  states  it  is  of 
irregular  occurrence,  and  is  usually  taken  in  late 
August  or  September.  Throughout  the  prairie 
states  the  buff-breast  is  common,  arriving  in  flocks 
in  August,  and  is  found  on  the  shores  and  flats 
of  the  alkali  lakes,  often  frequenting  the  fields  and 
plains.  The  birds  are  gentle  and  easily  shot, 
though  in  this  country  would  hardly  be  disturbed 
as  game.  They  pass  south  through  Texas  and 
the  southwestern  states  into  Mexico,  wintering  in 
various  parts  of  South  America  and  visiting  at 
times  the  West  Indies.  The  migration  north  is 
in  May,  over  the  plains  to  the  Arctic  regions, 
where  the  nest  has  been  taken  in  Alaska,  the 
Anderson  River  regions,  and  the  Barren  Grounds. 


432  The  Water-fowl  Family 

This  is  on  the  ground  and  lined  with  dried  grass, 
resembling  that  of  the  golden  plover.  During 
the  breeding  season  the  birds  are  active  and 
demonstrative,  pursuing  each  other  closely,  often 
towering  to  some  height  in  the  air. 

The  strange  actions  of  the  males  during  the 
breeding  season  at  Point  Barrow  are  described 
by  Murdoch  as  follows :  "  A  favorite  trick  is  to 
walk  along  with  one  wing  stretched  to  its  fullest 
extent  and  held  high  in  the  air.  I  have  frequently 
seen  solitary  birds  doing  this  for  their  own  amuse- 
ment, when  they  had  no  spectators  of  their  own 
kind.  Two  would  occasionally  meet  and  '  spar ' 
like  fighting  cocks  for  a  few  minutes  and  then 
rise  together  like  '  towering '  birds,  with  legs 
hanging  loose  for  about  thirty  feet,  then  drifting 
off  to  leeward.  A  single  bird  will  sometimes 
stretch  himself  up  to  his  full  height,  spread  his 
wings  forward,  and  puff  out  his  throat,  making  a 
sort  of  clucking  noise,  while  one  or  two  others 
stand  by  and  apparently  admire  him.  They  are 
very  silent,  even  during  the  breeding  season." 

The  young  are  hatched  rather  late  in  July,  and 
by  August  all  have  gone. 

SPOTTED    SANDPIPER 
{Actitis  macularid) 

Adult  male  and  female  in  breeding  plumage  —  Entire  upper  parts, 
lustrous  ashy  green,  irregularly  spotted  with  black,  the  lustre 
less  noticeable  on  the  neck ;  a  white  stripe  over  the  eye ; 


Shore-bird  Shooting  433 

entire  under  parts,  white,  with  numerous  black  markings,  small 
on  the  throat  and  large  spots  on  the  breast;  primaries,  dark 
brown,  white  on  basal  portion ;  tail,  marked  with  a  subterminal 
blackish  bar ;  outer  feathers,  with  dusky  and  white  transverse 
spots,  tipped  with  white,  except  central  pair. 

Young — Above,  ashy  green,  with  narrow  transverse  black  bars 
most  numerous  on  the  wing-coverts,  feathers,  edged  with  buff; 
under  parts,  white,  the  jugulum  suffused  with  gray ;  bill,  edge 
of  maxilla,  and  mandible,  yellow,  remainder  dusky ;  legs  and 
feet,  grayish  olive  ;  iris,  brown. 

Downy  young —  Upper  parts,  yellowish  gray,  finely  speckled  with 
blackish  ;  a  black  line  from  forehead  to  rump,  and  another  from 
bill  through  eye  to  nape ;  forehead,  sides  of  head,  and  lower 
parts,  white. 

Measurements  —  Length,  7.75  ;  wing,  4  inches  ;  culmen,  I  inch  ; 
tarsus,  i  inch;  middle  toe,  .75  inch. 

Eggs  —  Four  in  number ;  ground  color,  drab  with  dark  dots  and 
blotches;  measures  1.21  by  .95  inches. 

Habitat —  Breeds  from  South  Carolina,  Tennessee,  Louisiana,  Texas, 
New  Mexico,  Arizona,  and  California,  north  to  Sable  Island, 
northern  Labrador,  Hudson  Bay,  the  Mackenzie  Delta,  and 
northwestern  Alaska,  most  abundantly  in  the  northern  and 
eastern  part  of  its  range ;  and  is  said  to  be  a  resident  in 
Jamaica,  Grenada,  and  Costa  Rica,  and  to  breed  in  the  last. 
Winters  from  the  Bermudas,  Bahamas,  and  West  Indies, 
Louisiana,  and  California,  south  to  southern  Brazil  and  Ecua- 
dor. Has  been  taken  frequently  in  Great  Britain  and  once  in 
Heligoland. 


The  spotted  sandpiper  is  widely  distributed 
and  common  throughout  the  United  States  and 
Canada.  In  summer  its  note  is  one  of  the  familiar 
sounds  on  all  our  interior  lakes  and  rivers,  calling 
attention  to  the  sprightly  form  balancing  on  a 
log  or  rock,  bowing  its  head  to  you  and  almost 
the  same  moment  tipping  up  the  tail,  as,  uttering 

2  F 


434  The  Water-fowl  Family 

a  shrill  peetweet,  the  bird  takes  flight  and  with 
quick,  stiff  beats  of  its  wings  moves  on  to  some 
old  stump  and  goes  through  the  same  perform- 
ance. At  this  time  they  have  the  responsibility 
of  a  brood,  and  there  are  few  more  anxious  parents. 
If  the  young  are  threatened,  their  excitement  be- 
comes intense ;  the  old  birds  keep  close  by,  now 
running  along  just  in  front  as  if  wounded,  the 
next  minute  alighting  almost  at  your  feet,  utter- 
ing all  the  time  their  plaintive  cry.  The  female 
has  been  observed  in  the  act  of  carrying  one  of  the 
young  between  her  thighs  while  in  flight.  The 
young  birds  hide  so  well  it  is  difficult  to  find  them, 
and  if  necessary  have  no  hesitation  in  taking  to  the 
water,  where  they  swim  and  dive  with  the  skill  of 
a  duckling.  Late  in  the  summer  we  find  them 
in  little  flocks  of  from  six  to  eight,  the  families 
probably  keeping  together.  They  frequent  the 
marshes  and  often  the  beaches  alongshore.  At 
this  time  the  birds  are  fat  and,  while  not  especially 
desirable  for  the  table,  are  shot  in  some  numbers 
with  other  small  peep. 

By  the  middle  of  August  they  are  southward 
bound,  while  some  of  the  young  birds  linger  later; 
in  the  northern  United  States  we  see  them  no 
more  until  early  in  the  following  spring,  when 
some  bright  morning  in  April  they  turn  up,  soon 
frequenting  locations  where  later  they  will  nest. 
May  is  their  breeding  time,  and  some  ploughed 


Shore-bird  Shooting  435 

field  or  dry,  short  marsh,  perhaps  a  stubble,  affords 
the  spot.  They  lay  four  eggs  on  the  ground  so 
closely  like  the  surroundings  that  it  is  almost 
impossible  to  see  them.  At  this  time  the  birds 
frequent  the  fields,  perching  on  the  fences,  and 
the  usual  note  becomes  varied  almost  into  a  song, 
bright  and  cheery  like  all  around  when  May  is  at 
its  height.  This  species,  from  its  wide  distribu- 
tion and  sociable,  familiar  habits,  goes  by  a  variety 
of  names,  such  as  tilt-up  or  peetweet,  and  teeter. 

LONG-BILLED    CURLEW 
(Numenius  longirostris) 

Adult  male  and  female  in  breeding  plumage  —  Upper  parts,  pale 
rufous,  tinged  with  gray,  each  feather  marked  with  transverse 
bands  of  black,  most  numerous  on  the  back  and  scapulars ; 
feathers  of  head,  striped  with  black ;  under  wing-coverts  and 
axillars,  bright  rufous ;  under  parts,  pale  rufous,  and  streaks  of 
black  on  neck  and  sides  ;  bill,  black,  becoming  light  brown  on 
the  base  of  the  mandible ;  legs  and  feet,  gray ;  iris,  brown. 
Other  plumages  are  similar  but  vary  in  the  rufous  color,  which 
in  some  instances  is  pale  and  worn. 

Downy  young —  Buffy  yellow,  becoming  sulphur-yellow  on  abdo- 
men ;  upper  part  irregularly  spotted  with  black ;  bill,  straight, 
1.40  inches  in  length. 

Measurements — Length,  25  inches;  wing,  10.50  inches;  tail,  4 
inches;  tarsus,  2.50  inches;  oilmen,  6  to  8.50  inches  in  the 
adult. 

Eggs  —  Three  or  four  in  number ;  ground  color,  grayish  white  or  buff, 
spotted  and  blotched  with  umber;  measure  2.80  by  1.85  inches. 

Habitat — Breeds  from  Texas,  western  Missouri,  Colorado,  Utah, 
Nevada,  northeastern  California,  and  probably  Arizona,  north 
to  eastern  British  Columbia,  Alberta,  Assiniboia,  and  western 
Manitoba,  and  probably  on  the  coast  of  Louisiana  and  southern 
Florida.  Winters  in  western  California,  Lower  California,  and 


436  The  Water-fowl  Family 

from  southern  Florida,  Louisiana,  and  Texas,  south  to  Cuba, 
Jamaica,  and  Mexico  to  Guatemala.  Bred  formerly  as  far  east 
as  Ohio,  and  on  the  Atlantic  Coast,  north  to  southern  New 
Jersey,  wintering  in  North  Carolina,  and  was  a  common  mi- 
grant north,  at  least,  to  Massachusetts ;  now  a  straggler  in 
North  America  east  of  the  Mississippi  and  north  of  Florida. 
Has  been  recorded  from  Newfoundland,  Labrador,  Alaska,  and 
southwestern  British  Columbia. 

The  long-billed  curlew  is  a  bird  of  the  past, 
now  threatened  with  extinction.  Formerly  com- 
mon along  the  Atlantic  Coast,  particularly  in  the 
Southern  states,  the  flocks  have  been  utterly 
destroyed,  so  that  at  the  present  time  the  old 
haunts  of  the  East  hardly  see  this  bird  as  a  strag- 
gler. Twenty  years  ago  the  sicklebill,  as  this 
species  is  commonly  called,  was  abundant  in  the 
late  fall  off  Virginia  and  North  Carolina;  now  it 
is  practically  unknown.  In  Florida,  where  great 
numbers  wintered,  it  is  rare.  When  the  long- 
billed  curlew  frequented  the  favorite  resorts  of 
the  South  in  thousands,  the  extensive  marshes 
near  the  coast  were  the  feeding-grounds,  the  birds 
flying  to  the  sandy  islands  offshore  to  roost  and 
spend  the  night.  At  low  tide  the  curlew  resorted 
to  the  bars  exposed  by  the  falling  water,  having 
special  spots  they  favored.  In  a  number  of  in- 
stances these  places  still  bear  their  names,  although 
they  have  not  seen  a  flock  of  sicklebill  in  years. 
Near  Cobb's  Island,  Virginia,  there  is  a  high-water 
flat,  a  famous  old-time  spot  for  these  birds.  It 


Shore-bird  S booting  437 

still  goes  by  the  name  of  curlew  bar.  Now,  an 
occasional  yellowlegs  and  plover  patronize  it,  or 
a  dowitcher,  but  never  a  curlew,  —  not  even  the 
Hudsonian,  which  is  common  everywhere  around. 
While  under  ordinary  circumstances  a  wild  bird, 
the  long-billed  curlew  has  a  peculiar  fondness  for 
its  own;  and  the  devotion  of  the  flock  to  the  fallen 
and  wounded  has  undoubtedly  been  a  prominent 
factor  in  its  destruction,  the  birds  answering  the 
cries  of  those  on  the  ground  and  circling  again  and 
again.  Throughout  the  wilder  parts  of  the  West 
this  species  is  still  found,  breeding  in  parts  of 
Dakota  and  Montana,  and  ranging  along  the 
plains  into  Texas,  southern  California,  and  Mexico. 
In  parts  of  Texas  large  numbers  are  still  seen. 
A  flock  of  thousands  was  reported  from  southern 
Texas  in  1899.  In  Mexico  in  May,  1901,  I  saw 
these  birds  occasionally  in  flocks  of  ten  or  fifteen. 
They  were  on  the  high  mesas  at  an  altitude  of 
about  7000  feet,  usually  in  the  vicinity  of  rolling 
hills,  and  kept  to  the  short,  dry  grass,  feeding  on 
grasshoppers  and  other  insects.  Occasionally  the 
Hudsonian  curlew  mingled  with  them.  Earlier 
in  the  spring  at  Tampico,  I  saw  a  few  sicklebill 
about  the  lagoon,  in  one  instance  on  the  outer 
beach.  This  bird  undoubtedly  breeds  over  a  large 
part  of  its  range.  Captain  Bendire  found  nests  in 
eastern  Oregon  in  wet  meadows ;  it  generally  util- 
izes for  this  purpose  the  high,  dry  prairies,  con- 


438  The  Water-fowl  Family 

structing  a  rough  nest  of  grass,  and  laying  three 
or  four  eggs ;  the  male  always  watchful,  darting  at 
the  intruder  with  loud  screaming,  while  the  female 
lies  close.  In  1896,  while  hunting  near  Ashcroft, 
British  Columbia,  I  saw  several  pairs  of  these  birds 
on  the  high  hills,  and  was  told  they  regularly  bred. 
The  young  fly  in  early  August,  and  when  fed  on 
the  insects  and  berries  of  the  interior  are  excellent 
eating,  while  along  the  shore  the  flesh  has  rather 
a  fishy  flavor.  The  long  bill  is  well  adapted  for 
picking  up  the  little  shellfish  and  minute  crabs 
on  the  flats.  This  species  is  the  largest  of  our 
waders,  and  its  former  liberal  distribution  gave  it 
a  variety  of  names,  such  as  Spanish  curlew,  buz- 
zard curlew,  hen-curlew,  smoker,  saberbill,  and 
mowyer. 

EUROPEAN    CURLEW 
(Numewus  arquatus) 

Male  and  female  in  breeding  plumage  —  Upper  parts,  brown,  the 
feathers  with  longitudinal  black  centres  and  notched  with  ashy 
or  rufous;  wing-coverts,  dark  brown,  edged  and  marked  with 
whitish  ;  primary-coverts  and  primaries,  blackish,  glossed  with 
bottle-green ;  the  primaries  and  secondaries,  notched  or  barred 
with  brown,  buff,  or  white ;  lower  back,  rump,  and  upper  tail- 
coverts,  white,  the  back  and  rump,  spotted,  the  tail-coverts, 
barred  with  black  ;  tail,  white,  often  tinged  with  buff  and  crossed 
by  nine  or  ten  bars  of  dark  brown;  head,  dark  brown,  the 
feathers,  edged  with  sandy  buff;  a  white  line  bordered  with 
black  over  eye ;  sides  of  face,  neck,  and  chest,  ashy  or  sandy 
buff,  streaked  with  dark  brown ;  chin,  upper  throat,  and  thighs, 
white ;  breast,  abdomen,  sides,  and  under  tail-coverts,  white, 
streaked  with  dark  brown ;  bill,  fleshy  brown,  darker  at  tip ; 
feet,  dusky ;  iris,  brown. 


Shore-bird  Shooting  439 

Adult  in  winter — Similar,  but  less  heavily  striped,  especially  on 
under  parts. 

Young —  Like  adults  but  more  tawny,  and  the  light  markings  of 
inner  secondaries,  tawny  buff. 

Measurements — Length,  21  to  24  inches;  wing,  11.50  inches;  tail, 
5  inches ;  culmen,  4.25  to  6  inches ;  tarsus,  3  inches. 

Eggs  —  Three  or  four ;  light  greenish  to  olive-brown,  spotted  with 
olive-brown,  umber-brown,  and  purplish;  measure  2.75  by  1.80 
inches. 

Habitat  —  Breeds  in  Great  Britain,  and  from  Holland  and  southern 
Russia  to  the  White  Sea  and  the  Ural  Mountains,  and  possibly 
in  the  south  of  France.  Winters  in  Great  Britain  and  through- 
out Africa,  from  the  Mediterranean  to  Cape  Colony.  In  migra- 
tion has  occurred  in  Iceland,  the  Azores,  and  Persia.  There  is 
strong  evidence  to  show  that  a  mounted  specimen  of  this  species, 
in  the  New  York  State  Museum,  was  prepared  by  a  New  York 
taxidermist,  and  shot  on  Long  Island,  New  York,  in  1853. 
This  is  the  only  claim  of  the  European  curlew  to  an  American 
registry. 

In  the  wild  moorland  found  in  parts  of  the 
British  Islands,  scattered  pairs  of  this  curlew 
make  small  hollows  among  the  moss  and  heather, 
line  them  with  a  little  grass  and  moss,  and  de- 
posit their  eggs  in  them  late  in  April.  Then  the 
male  stands  motionless  on  some  near-by  hillock 
and  whistles  to  the  female  if  any  one  approaches. 
She  at  once  runs  some  distance,  then  flies 
rapidly,  and  returns  high  in  air  after  making  a 
wide  circle,  uttering  her  plaintive  cry.  High  on 
the  hills  and  often  far  from  water,  they  spend  the 
summer,  not  returning  to  the  shore  until  the 
young  are  fledged. 


440  The  Water-fowl  Family 


HUDSONIAN    CURLEW 

(Numenius  hudsonicus) 

Adult  male  and  female  in  breeding  plumage  —  Top  of  head,  sooty 
brown,  divided  longitudinally  by  a  stripe  of  buff.  A  narrow 
dusky  stripe  from  bill  to  the  eye  over  the  ear-coverts,  separated 
from  the  crown  by  a  superciliary  stripe  of  buff;  rest  of  head, 
neck,  lower  parts,  light  buff;  neck,  jugulum,  and  breast,  streaked 
with  dark  brown  ;  axillars,  buff,  barred  with  brown ;  upper  parts, 
spotted  with  buff  and  dark  brown  ;  bill,  black,  yellowish  at  base 
of  mandible ;  legs  and  feet,  grayish  brown.  Other  plumages, 
closely  similar. 

Measurements  —  Length,  17  inches;  wing,  9.50  inches;  culmen, 
3.50  inches  ;  tarsus,  2.25  inches. 

Eggs  —  Three  to  four  in  number;  ground  color,  drab  with  large 
brown  spots;  measure  2.40  by  1.55  inches. 

Habitat — Breeds  from  St.  Michael  and  Kotzebue  Sound,  Alaska, 
to  the  Barren  Grounds  near  the  Anderson  River,  and  probably 
east  to  Greenland,  where  it  has  been  taken,  and  south  to  Hud- 
son Bay.  Winters  from  the  West  Indies,  Louisiana,  and 
Lower  California,  south  to  the  Galapagos  Islands,  Chili,  and 
Patagonia.  In  migrations,  most  common  on  the  Atlantic  Coast 
of  North  America,  and  rare  in  the  western  interior  south  of 
Athabasca.  Accidental  in  Spain,  and  occurs  in  Bermuda. 

The  commonest  and  most  widely  distributed  of 
our  curlews,  this  bird  passes  from  the  Arctic 
regions  through  South  America  to  Patagonia. 
In  North  America  frequenting  both  coasts  and 
the  interior.  The  shores  of  the  Atlantic,  how- 
ever, seem  to  be  its  favorite  range.  The  Hud- 
sonian  curlew  arrives  on  the  islands  of  the  Gulf 
of  St.  Lawrence  early  in  August,  increasing 
steadily  in  numbers  until  late  in  the  month. 
They  are  found  in  the  fields  where  grasshoppers 


Shore-bird  Shooting  441 

abound,  and  have  a  special  fondness  for  blueberry 
patches ;  following  the  falling  tide  until  the  fur- 
thermost bars  are  exposed,  and  flying  on  to  the 
dunes  with  the  turning  water.  Here  in  localities 
where  berries  abound,  they  congregate  in  vast 
flocks.  The  flight  usually  is  in  range  of  land,  and 
when  the  birds  have  been  undisturbed  the  course 
taken  by  the  successive  flocks  is  generally  the  same. 
As  the  line  of  birds  first  comes  into  view,  low 
down  and  directly  toward  you,  now  almost  in 
range,  there  are  few  pleasanter  moments  in  shore- 
bird  shooting.  They  sheer  a  little  from  the  place 
of  concealment,  when  a  well-timed  whistle  brings 
them  within  shot.  For  a  short  while  the  birds 
come  thick  and  fast  in  flocks  of  from  ten  to  fifty, 
then  less  often,  and  finally  only  an  occasional  be- 
lated bird  is  seen.  A  few  days'  shooting  in  such 
a  location  drives  them  away.  On  the  flats  and 
marshes  they  come  to  decoys  but  in  small  num- 
bers. 

Curlew  have  the  habit  of  repairing  to  some 
particular  spot  to  spend  the  night,  often  congre- 
gating together  in  vast  numbers.  One  of  these 
roosts  was  a  small,  high  island  a  mile  or  so  from 
shore.  On  this  the  birds  gathered  in  hundreds, 
the  first  flocks  coming  late  in  the  afternoon.  Na- 
tives in  some  instances  have  killed  over  a  hundred 
birds  here  in  a  short  time ;  but  one  day's  shoot- 
ing is  all,  then  they  desert  the  place.  From  the 


442  The  Water-fowl  Family 

islands  in  the  gulf,  the  curlew  scatter  along  the 
coast,  working  their  way  south,  tarrying  where 
marshes  and  flats  afford  feeding-grounds.  For- 
merly Cape  Cod  and  Long  Island  were  regular 
stopping-places,  but  now  the  large  majority  keep 
on  their  flight  offshore  until  further  south.  The 
marshes  of  the  Virginia  and  North  Carolina  coast 
are  the  haunts  of  many,  and  we  find  them  here  by 
the  middle  of  August,  leaving  in  September.  The 
young  birds  follow  the  adults  on  the  same  line  of 
migration,  but  from  three  weeks  to  a  month  later. 
These  birds  are  more  liable  to  pass  along  our 
shores  than  the  old  ones ;  they  are  also  seen  in 
larger  flocks.  The  curlew's  whistle  is  shrill  and 
clear,  and  often  announces  its  presence  some  time 
before  coming  into  view.  If  answered  from  a 
blind  the  bird  generally  replies  and  circles  about 
the  decoys  within  range,  but  the  fast  flight  often 
saves  it. 

While  the  flesh  of  this  species  is  good,  and 
the  young  birds  are  excellent,  it  does  not  stand  in 
quite  the  high  repute  for  the  table  that  some  of 
the  smaller  shore-birds  enjoy.  The  Hudsonian 
curlew  winters  over  a  vast  territory,  —  in  Mexico 
and  Central  America,  through  South  America, 
frequenting  the  pampas  of  Brazil  and  Patagonia. 
The  migration  north  is  through  the  interior  of 
the  United  States,  but  more  along  the  Atlantic 
Coast.  The  birds  appear  off  North  Carolina  and 


Shore-bird  Shooting  443 

Virginia  late  in  March  and  here  tarry  until  large 
numbers  have  congregated.  The  latter  part  of 
April  marks  their  departure.  Between  this  point 
and  the  islands  in  the  Gulf  of  St.  Lawrence,  they 
are  not  seen  in  the  same  vast  flocks.  Early  in 
April,  1899,  while  at  Cobb's  Island,  there  were 
several  days  of  high  tides,  and  one  afternoon  when 
a  perigee  tide  was  at  its  height  and  the  marshes 
all  inundated,  there  was  a  continuous  flight  of 
curlew  from  the  late  afternoon  into  evening,  and 
after  dark  we  could  hear  them  passing  overhead. 
I  have  never  seen  as  many  birds  of  any  one 
kind  as  on  this  occasion.  Evidently  the  flocks 
for  miles  to  the  south  had  been  driven  from  their 
resting-places  at  night  by  the  flood.  May  finds 
them  well  on  their  way  to  their  breeding-grounds, 
and  by  the  last  of  the  month  many  have  reached 
their  summer  home  in  the  remote  Arctic  regions. 
Here  they  nest  and  raise  their  young,  choosing 
the  wild  barrens  and  placing  the  nest  on  the 
ground,  lining  it  scantily  with  leaves  and  grass. 
In  Alaska  this  is  simply  a  slight  hollow  in  the 
moss,  and  while  one  bird  is  on  the  eggs,  the 
other,  seated  on  a  twig  of  some  dwarf  willow,  acts 
as  sentinel,  giving  a  loud  whistle  when  an  intruder 
appears.  Then  both  birds  fly  toward  the  ap- 
proaching danger,  wheeling  restlessly  around  and 
whistling  repeatedly. 

The  eggs  are  hatched  in  late  June,  and  by  the 


444  The  Water-fowl  Family 

last  of  July  the  old  birds  have  pushed  on,  leaving 
the  young  to  Nature's  care,  knowing  she  will  turn 
them  in  the  same  flight  south. 

ESKIMO    CURLEW 
(Numenius  borealis) 

Adult  male  and  female  —  Top  of  head,  dusky,  streaked  with  buff, 
and  without  central  light  stripe ;  rest  of  head,  neck,  and  lower 
parts,  light  buff;  cheeks  and  neck,  streaked,  the  breast,  sides, 
flanks  with  V-shaped  markings  of  brown ;  axillars  and  lining  of 
wing,  pale  cinnamon,  the  axillars  barred  with  dusky  ;  upper  parts, 
spotted  dusky  and  buff;  the  wing-coverts,  grayish  brown,  with 
dusky  streaks ;  rump  and  upper  tail-coverts,  dusky  and  light 
buff;  tail,  gray,  with  brownish  bars;  bill,  black;  iris,  brown; 
legs  and  feet,  greenish  brown.  Other  plumages  similar. 

Measurements  —  Length,  13.50  inches;  wing,  8  inches;  culmen,  3 
inches  ;  tarsus,  2  inches. 

Eggs  —  Four  in  number;  ground  color,  olive-drab,  with  irregular 
blotches  of  dark  sepia;  measure  2.10  by  1.80  inches. 

Habitat  —  Breeds  on  the  Barren  Grounds  from  the  Anderson  River 
east,  probably  in  Cumberland  and  Greenland,  and  possibly  in 
Alaska.  Winters  from  Louisiana  ( ?)  and  the  West  Indies, 
throughout  South  America  to  Cape  Horn,  but  chiefly  on  the 
plains  of  Argentina  and  Patagonia.  Formerly  an  abundant 
migrant  through  the  western  Mississippi  Valley,  and  tolerably 
common  on  the  Atlantic  Coast  in  fall ;  rare  between  the  coast 
and  the  Mississippi,  and  not  reported  from  farther  west  than 
Texas,  except  once  from  California ;  now  migrating  through  the 
Mississippi  Valley  in  greatly  reduced  numbers,  and  very  rare  on 
the  Atlantic  Coast.  Has  been  reported  in  the  migration  from 
northeastern  Siberia,  St.  Michael,  and  the  Pribilof  Islands, 
Alaska,  the  Galapagos  and  Falkland  Islands,  Bermuda,  and 
Great  Britain. 

An  uncertain  bird,  the  Eskimo  curlew  is  not 
common   on   the   eastern   coast    of    the    United 


Shore-bird  Shooting  445 

States,  and  apparently  for  no  good  reason.  About 
the  Labrador  shores  this  curlew  until  recently 
has  been  abundant,  congregating  in  large  flocks^ 
sometimes  of  thousands,  gathering  on  the  hills 
along  the  coast,  and  feeding  on  grasshoppers  and 
various  berries,  particularly  a  small  black  variety 
which  grows  on  a  low  shrub  and  goes  by  the 
name  of  curlew  berry.  When  looking  for  a  place 
to  feed,  the  flocks  keep  a  short  distance  from  the 
ground  on  graceful  wing,  now  high  over  the  grass, 
now  with  a  swoop  disappearing  only  to  reappear 
and  sail  on.  Presently  the  birds  settle,  and  if  ap- 
proached, so  exactly  resemble  the  grass  that  they  are 
difficult  to  see  on  the  ground  ;  and  unless  the  spot 
is  well  marked,  they  may  rise  unexpectedly,  when 
a  clear,  low  whistle  announces  their  departure. 
From  the  Labrador  coast  the  Eskimo  curlew  pass 
out  to  sea,  and  we  know  little  of  their  course. 
On  the  islands  in  the  Gulf  of  St.  Lawrence  they 
occur  in  small  numbers ;  rarely  a  storm-driven  or 
belated  flock  is  seen.  South,  along  the  coast, 
their  presence  is  still  more  irregular,  marked  gen- 
erally by  a  persistence  of  easterly  winds  and  foggy 
weather.  On  the  Magdalen  Islands,  except  in  a 
single  instance,  I  have  never  seen  these  birds 
abundant.  This  occurred  in  early  September, 
1890;  we  had  sailed  to  the  eastern  end  of  the 
islands  for  a  few  days'  duck-shooting.  One  or 
two  foggy  days  preceded  our  arrival,  and  heavy 


446  The  Water-fowl  Family 

weather  prevented  us  from  quite  reaching  the 
destination.  The  shelter  of  a  native  shanty  was 
thankfully  accepted.  It  proved  to  be  an  instance, 
though,  of  "  into  the  fire,"  for  the  house  was  flea 
infested,  and  but  little  better  than  the  storm  out- 
side. At  the  first  sign  of  morning  I  left  the  place 
with  the  idea  of  climbing  a  high  bluff  just  beyond. 
It  was  a  straight  cliff  some  two  hundred  feet  high, 
rising  from  the  edge  of  the  bay,  and  tapering  off 
into  low  hills  from  the  summit.  Long  before 
reaching  the  top  I  could  hear  curlew  whistling, 
and  soon  a  flock  passed  by  in  sight ;  after  circling 
about  the  steep  slope  they  settled  in  the  grass. 
In  a  few  minutes  a  small  bunch  of  birds  came 
within  range,  and  at  the  report  of  the  gun  a  per- 
fect cloud  of  curlew  rose,  breaking  up  into  small 
flocks  as  they  filled  the  air.  To  my  surprise  the 
birds  were  mostly  Eskimo  curlew.  It  was  a  ques- 
tion only  of  a  short  time  before  the  last  cartridge 
had  been  spent,  and  the  shooting  had  been  so 
rapid  there  had  been  no  chance  to  pick  up  the 
dead  birds ;  of  these  about  two-thirds  were  Eski- 
mos. Later  in  the  morning  we  started  out  with 
powder  and  shot  enough  to  last,  but  the  curlew 
had  gone,  not  a  single  one  was  left;  and  though 
repeatedly  this  hill  was  visited,  we  never  after- 
ward saw  anything  there  but  a  few  Hudsonian 
curlew.  Toward  the  end  of  September  the 
Eskimo  curlew  is  regularly  found  as  a  straggler 


Shore-bird  Shooting 


447 


among  the  flocks  of  Hudsonian,  at  the  Magdalens, 
but  I  have  never  seen  them  in  a  flock  by  them- 
selves, with  this  exception.  Farther  south  they 
are  uncommon,  and  off  Massachusetts  only  occa- 
sionally come  in  with  the  flocks  of  golden  plover, 
after  heavy  easterly  weather,  late  in  August  or 
early  September.  The  young  birds  are  taken 
well  into  October  under  the  same  circumstances. 
On  the  southern  coast  their  occurrence  is  similar, 
and  the  large  bodies  spend  but  little  time  on  land 
between  the  shores  of  Labrador  and  the  Pampas 
of  the  Argentine  and  Patagonia.  In  September 
and  October  they  are  found  through  the  interior 
on  the  prairie,  and  in  the  spring  the  migration  is 
apparently  almost  entirely  through  the  western 
United  States,  along  the  same  course  as  the 
golden  plover.  About  the  middle  of  May  the 
birds  literally  covered  the  prairie  in  places,  and 
were  shipped  to  the  markets  in  barrels.  In  the 
last  few  years  the  numbers  have  decreased  re- 
markably, both  on  the  breeding-grounds  and 
along  the  lines  of  their  spring  flight.  The  Barren 
Grounds  of  the  eastern  Arctic  regions  and  north- 
ern Labrador  are  the  nesting-places,  and  these  are 
reached  in  early  June.  The  eggs  are  placed  in  a 
slight  depression  on  a  few  dead  leaves  or  a  little 
grass,  and  are  very  difficult  to  find  on  account  of 
their  resemblance  to  the  surroundings,  the  bird 
quietly  leaving  at  the  approach  of  danger.  The 


448  The  Water-fowl  Family 

young  are  hatched  late  in  the  month  and  run  at 
once,  quickly  hiding  in  the  grass  if  threatened. 

The  Eskimo  curlew  show  the  same  concern  for 
their  wounded  noticed  in  other  members  of  the 
family,  and  the  flock  often  exposes  itself  to  turn 
and  circle  over  the  fallen.  Few  birds  are  held  in 
higher  esteem  for  the  market  along  our  eastern 
coast,  and  the  doe-bird,  for  this  is  one  of  its  com- 
mon names,  is  a  delicacy  on  the  bill  of  fare.  It  is 
also  known  as  "futes." 


WHIMBREL 

(Numenius  phaopus) 

Adult  male  and  female  —  Top  of  head,  sooty  brown,  with  a  longitu- 
dinal medial  stripe  of  buff,  a  dark  stripe  on  side  of  head  from 
bill  to  loral  region,  and  a  distinct  superciliary  stripe  of  buff 
above;  remainder  of  head,  neck,  and  lower  parts,  light  buff, 
lightest  on  throat  and  anal  regions ;  cheeks,  neck  entire,  jugu- 
lum,  and  breast,  streaked  with  brown;  entire  rump,  white; 
upper  tail-coverts,  white,  barred  with  brown;  tail,  dark  gray, 
barred  with  dusky,  and  tipped  with  white ;  iris,  brown ;  bill, 
black,  base,  yellowish  brown  ;  legs  and  feet,  plumbeous.  Other 
plumages,  closely  similar. 

Measurements  —  Length,  17  inches;  wing,  10  inches;  culmen,  3.50 
inches  ;  tarsus,  2.50  inches. 

Eggs  —  Four  in  number;  olive-brown,  blotched  with  dark  brown; 
measure  2.34  by  1.67  inches. 

Habitat  —  Breeds  in  Iceland,  the  Faroe,  Orkney,  and  Shetland 
islands,  and  probably  in  Greenland  ;  in  Scandinavia  and  Russia, 
east  to  the  Petchora  River  and  Ural  Mountains,  above  the  forest 
limits,  and  north  to  66°.  Winters  from  the  Azores  and  Canary 
Islands,  through  central  Africa  to  Cape  Town,  and  east  to  India, 
and  occasionally  the  Malay  Peninsula.  Has  occurred  in  Spitz- 
bergen  and  several  times  in  Greenland, 


Shore-bird  S  boot  ing  449 

The  whimbrel  is  the  European  representative  of 
the  Hudsonian  curlew,  which  it  closely  resembles. 
It  may  be  immediately  distinguished  by  the  pure 
white  rump.  Several  specimens  from  Greenland 
constitute  its  claim  to  a  place  on  the  North 
American  list. 

The  whimbrel  is  an  abundant  summer  resident 
of  the  Faroe  Islands  and  Iceland,  breeding  in 
marshes  of  the  most  desolate  country  it  can  find. 
Like  so  many  other  of  the  large  waders,  naturally 
pugnacious  in  the  breeding  season,  swooping  with 
a  trilling  cry  at  any  strange  or  moving  object,  the 
few  still  raising  their  young  in  regions  that  man 
frequents  have  learned  his  disposition,  and  fly  or 
run  silently  from  their  eggs  while  he  is  yet  far 
away,  and  keep  well  out  of  gunshot. 

BRISTLE-THIGHED    CURLEW 

(Numenius  tahitiensis) 

Adult  male  and  female  —  Crown,  sooty  brown,  with  central  longi- 
tudinal stripe  of  buff,  a  dark  streak  from  bill  through  eye  over 
the  auricular  region,  a  superciliary  stripe  of  buff  above,  rest  of 
head  and  neck,  buff,  streaked  with  brown ;  back  and  scapulars, 
brown,  with  spots  of  buff;  wing-coverts,  paler ;  upper  tail-coverts 
and  tail,  buff,  barred  with  dark  brown  ;  throat  and  under  parts, 
buff;  neck  and  breast,  streaked,  the  flanks  barred  with  dark 
brown;  the  shafts  of  feathers  of  tibial  and  femoral  regions, 
lengthened  like  bristles;  bill,  black;  base  of  mandible,  flesh 
color ;  feet  and  legs,  bluish  ;  iris,  brown. 

Measurements  —  Length,  17  inches  ;  wing,  10.50  inches  ;  tarsus,  2.30 
inches;  culmen,  3.50  inches. 

Habitat — Breeding  range  unknown;  recorded  from  the  Kowak 
River,  St.  Michael,  and  Kadiak,  Alaska,  in  summer ;  from  Lower 
2G 


450  The  Water-fowl  Family 

California ;  and  in  winter  from  the  islands  of  the  South  Pacific, 
from  the  Hawaiian  Islands  to  New  Caledonia,  and  from  the 
Ladrones  to  the  Marquesas  and  Paumota  groups.  Has  been 
taken  on  the  Phcenix  Islands,  in  Oceanica,  on  June  29  and 
July  2,  and  found  common  on  Laysan  in  summer. 

There  are  only  two  instances  of  this  curlew 
having  been  taken  on  our  western  coast,  both  in 
Alaska,  —  one  at  St.  Michael,  the  other  on  Kadiak 
Island.  The  one  shot  at  St.  Michael  was  killed 
by  Nelson.  It  was  one  of  a  pair,  and  both  birds 
were  shot  but  the  other  lost.  This  species  can 
only  be  regarded  as  accidental. 

The  appearance  and  habits  of  this  bird  much 
resemble  those  of  the  Hudsonian  curlew,  as  does 
its  loud  whistling  call-note. 


CHAPTER   XI 

SHORE-BIRD  SHOOTING   (CONTINUED) 

THE  PLOVERS 

(Charadriidce) 

THE  plover  family  contains  almost  as  many 
species  as  the  sandpiper-snipe  group,  and  like  it 
the  members  are  found  in  all  parts  of  the  world. 
Many  of  them  are  very  beautiful  birds,  and,  among 
the  species  not  occurring  in  North  America,  adorn- 
ments such  as  a  crested  head  or  a  spur  on  the 
wing  are  occasionally  present.  They  are  swift- 
flying  birds  with  very  long  wings  which  reach 
when  folded  to  the  end  of  the  tail.  They  are 
gregarious  in  their  habits  except  in  the  breeding 
season,  and  the  journey  of  the  entire  length  of 
North  and  South  America,  from  their  summer  to 
their  winter  homes,  is  no  more  of  a  task  to  some 
of  the  plovers  than  it  is  to  certain  sandpipers. 
Other  species  are  practically  sedentary,  but  none 
of  these  occur  in  North  America.  Fourteen 
species  with  two  subspecies  have  been  recorded 
within  our  limits,  but  several  are  present  only  as 
stragglers.  They  frequent  the  shores  and  marshes, 
but  by  no  means  exclusively,  some  preferring  the 

451 


45 2  The  Water-fowl  Family 

upland  fields.  Their  food  consists  largely  of  in- 
sects and  occasionally  berries,  but  none  of  them 
bore  in  the  mud  for  their  food  like  a  snipe.  Swift 
either  on  foot  or  on  the  wing,  they  delight  our 
eyes  with  their  graceful  movements,  as  they  do 
our  ears  with  their  mellow  call-notes. 

None  of  the  plovers  are  very  large,  and  the 
neck  is  shorter  than  in  the  families  already  consid- 
ered. The  bill  is  peculiar, — shorter  than  the  head, 
and  in  shape  somewhat  like  that  of  a  pigeon. 
Near  the  rounded  nostrils  the  bill  is  compressed 
and  then  expands,  curving  over  in  a  hard  tip. 
The  legs  are  covered  with  small  hexagonal  scales  ; 
the  anterior  toes  have  a  small  web  at  the  base,  and 
the  hind  toe  is  usually  wanting.  Although  five 
genera  occur  in  North  America,  our  common  spe- 
cies belong  to  two  groups  :  one  of  these  contains 
birds  of  medium  size  with  mottled  upper  parts  and 
with  the  lower  parts  black  in  the  adults  in  sum- 
mer ;  the  other,  small  birds  with  plain  upper  parts, 
white  lower  parts,  and  usually  a  dark  ring  on  the 
neck. 

LAPWING 

(  Vanellus  vanellus) 

Adult  male  in  breeding  plumage  —  Forehead,  top  of  the  head,  chin, 
throat,  and  breast,  glossy  lustrous  black ;  feathers  of  occiput 
lengthened  into  a  crest  of  the  same  color,  curving  upward ; 
sides  of  head  and  neck,  white,  marked  with  black  streaks 
behind  the  eyes ;  back,  scapulars,  and  tertials,  metallic  green, 
changing  to  coppery  purple  on  the  outer  scapulars ;  rump,  like 


BLACK-BELLIED    PLOVER 


Shore-bird  Shooting  453 

the  back,  but  less  brilliant ;   upper  tail-coverts,  deep  rufous ; 

basal  half  and  top  of  the  tail,  white  ;  subterminal  portion,  black, 

this  color  disappearing  on  the  outer  feathers ;  lower  parts,  pure 

white,  becoming  rufous  under  the  tail. 
Adult  female  —  Resembles   male,   but   the   throat   is   white,   crest 

shorter,  and  upper  parts  less  brilliant  in  color. 
Winter  plumage  —  Is  similar,  but  the  throat  is  white,  the  black  band 

on  the  breast  tipped  on  some  feathers  with  white  ;  some  feathers 

on  the  back  tipped  with  buff. 
Young —  Similar  to  adult  in  winter,  but  feathers  of  upper  parts  edged 

with  sandy  buff;   little  purple  gloss  on  scapulars ;    crest  very 

short ;  sides  of  head  and  throat  marked  with  sandy  buff. 
Downy  young — Above,  light  brownish  gray,  mottled  with  black; 

shoulders  marked  with  rusty  ;  hind  neck  and  entire  lower  parts, 

white ;  chest,  grayish. 
Measurements  —  Length,  13  inches  ;  culmen,  I  inch  ;  wing,  9  inches  ; 

tarsus,  2  inches. 
Eggs  —  Four  in  number;  dark  olive,  blotched  with  brown;  measure 

1.93  by  1.34  inches. 
Habitat — Breeds  from  Great  Britain  and  central  Europe,  through 

Asia  to  northern  China  and  Japan,  and  north  to  the  Arctic 

circle  in  Europe,  and  latitude  55°  north  in  Siberia.     Winters 

from  Great  Britain,  central  Europe,  the  Azores,  and  northern 

Africa,  east  to  northwest  India  and  southern  China.     Has  been 

recorded    from  Greenland,   Nova   Scotia,   Long   Island,   New 

York,  Barbadoes,  and  Norton  Sound,  Alaska. 

This  is  the  species  that  lays  the  "  plovers'  eggs  " 
so  well  known  to  European  epicures.  It  breeds 
in  great  numbers  in  western  Europe,  usually  in 
marshes  but  often  on  the  uplands,  and  its  eggs 
are  sold  in  market  in  thousands  and  tens  of 
thousands,  and  until  recently  large  numbers  of 
the  birds  themselves  were  taken  for  sale  in  the 
breeding  season.  In  spite  of  this  persecution 
its  numbers  are  still  great,  and  one  visiting  suit- 


454  The  Water-fowl  Family 

able  localities  in  April  or  May  will  be  saluted 
by  the  frantic  dash  and  wailing  peetweet  of  the 
male,  and  perhaps  see  the  female  steal  silently 
away  in  another  direction.  When  mating  the 
male  goes  through  the  peculiar  actions  known 
as  "  tumbling  "  to  win  the  attention  of  his  loved 
one.  The  nest  is  a  slight  hollow  in  the  ground. 
The  flight  is  peculiar,  as  if  the  bird  were  jerked 
through  the  air.  When  walking,  the  long  crest 
is  usually  held  horizontal  but  sometimes  carried 
erect.  In  Hungary,  the  lapwing  breeds  in 
grassy  pastures  bordering  lakes,  keeping  up  a 
continual  noise  while  one  is  in  the  neighborhood. 
In  the  winter  they  feed  in  the  fields  in  Egypt, 
and  allow  one  to  approach  closely  without  show- 
ing signs  of  fear. 

The  lapwing  is  also  known  as  the  green  plover, 
peaseweep,  peewit,  and  tuckit  from  its  note,  and 
the  storm  that  often  occurs  about  the  time  the 
birds  return  from  their  winter  quarters  is  known 
in  parts  of  England  as  the  tuckit  storm.  It  is 
included  in  the  American  Check-List  on  account 
of  its  occasional  occurrence  in  Greenland.  It 
has  also  been  taken  on  Long  Island. 

DOTTEREL 
(Endromias  morinellus) 

Male  in  breeding  plumage  —  Upper  parts,  ashy  brown,  feathers 
streaked  and  edged  with  sandy  buff;  rump  and  upper  tail- 
coverts,  ashy  brown,  edged  with  lighter ;  primaries  and  second- 


Shore-bird  Shooting  455 

aries,  dusky  brown,  the  first  primary  with  outer  web  and  shaft 
white;  secondaries,  edged  with  whitish,  the  innermost  with 
sandy  buff;  top  of  head,  blackish  brown,  feathers  somewhat 
edged  with  sandy  buff;  broad  white  band  over  eye  extending 
to  nape ;  rest  of  head  and  sides  of  throat,  white,  spotted  and 
streaked  with  dusky ;  throat,  white,  streaked  with  dusky  below  ; 
sides  of  neck  and  band  across  fore  neck,  light  ashy  brown, 
washed  with  buff  and  bordered  below  by  narrow  band  of  black 
and  this  by  a  white  band ;  breast  and  sides,  orange-chestnut ; 
centre  of  lower  breast  and  abdomen,  black;  lower  abdomen, 
thighs,  and  under  tail-coverts,  white  ;  axillaries  and  under  wing- 
coverts,  smoky  gray. 

Adult  female  in  breeding  plumage  —  Similar,  but  less  brightly  colored, 
and  black  abdominal  space  less  conspicuous. 

Male  and  female  in  winter  —  Similar  above,  but  top  of  head, 
brown,  streaked  with  sandy  buff;  sides  of  face,  ashy  fulvous, 
streaked  with  brown ;  chin,  white ;  throat,  ashy  brown,  streaked 
with  dusky,  and  a  white  band  faintly  indicated ;  rest  of  lower 
parts,  isabelline  white,  sides  washed  with  buff. 

Young —  Like  winter  plumage,  but  upper  parts  blackish  brown, 
feathers  edged  with  whitish  ;  space  above  eye,  throat,  and  lower 
parts,  washed  with  ochraceous. 

Downy  young — Upper  parts,  black,  mottled  with  rufous  and  sandy 
buff;  black  lines  on  forehead  and  lores;  forehead,  eyebrow, 
back  of  head,  and  lower  parts,  white. 

Measurements  —  Length,  8.50  inches;  wing,  5.75  inches;  tail,  2.50 
inches;  culmen,  .75  inch;  tarsus,  1.35  inches. 

Eggs  —  Two  to  three ;  grayish  buff,  spotted  with  brown  and  gray ; 
measure  i. 60  by  1.15  inches. 

Habitat — Breeds  in  the  Alps  and  the  mountains  of  Great  Britain 
and  southern  Russia  to  Scandinavia,  and  through  Siberia,  except 
the  southeastern  part,  to  Spitzbergen  and  Nova  Zembla.  Win- 
ters in  southern  Europe  and  northern  Africa.  Accidental  in 
Japan,  and  one  taken  on  King  Island,  Alaska,  July  23,  1897. 

Though  chiefly  confined  in  the  breeding  sea- 
son to  the  northern  parts  of  northern  Eurasia, 
a  few  still  breed  on  the  mountains  of  the  Eng- 


456  Tbe  Water-fowl  Family 

lish  lakes.  Here  they  frequent  the  upper  slopes 
of  the  highest  mountains,  laying  their  eggs  in  a 
small  hollow  which  they  form  in  the  moss  that 
covers  the  ground.  As  one  approaches  the 
breeding-grounds,  he  will  usually  see  one  of  the 
birds  fly  by,  uttering  a  low,  plaintive  whistle,  and 
presently  notice  the  other  running  along  the 
ground,  its  plumage  harmonizing  so  with  the 
moss  as  to  be  practically  invisible  when  not  in 
motion.  When  flushed  from  the  eggs,  the  parent 
will  usually  run  a  few  steps  and  then  stand  silent 
and  motionless;  but  sometimes  it  will  shuffle 
along  the  ground,  its  tail  spread  wide,  and  squeal 
like  a  rabbit. 

BLACK-BELLIED    PLOVER 
(Squatarola  squatarold) 

Adult  male  and  female  in  breeding  plumage  —  Around  the  base  of 
the  bill,  sides  of  the  face,  throat,  neck,  in  front,  and  breast, 
reaching  well  on  to  the  under  parts,  jet-black;  forehead,  nape, 
back  of  neck  widening  on  the  sides  to  breast,  white ;  some  black 
feathers  in  the  centre  of  the  crown ;  back  and  scapulars,  black, 
spotted  and  barred  with  white ;  wing-coverts,  ashy  brown,  simi- 
larly marked ;  greater  coverts,  ashy  brown,  edged  with  white ; 
under  wing-coverts,  white ;  axillary  plumes,  black ;  rump,  brown, 
edged  with  white ;  upper  tail-coverts,  white,  irregularly  barred 
with  brownish  black ;  tail,  white,  barred  with  brownish  black ; 
vent  and  under  tail-coverts,  white;  bill,  black;  legs  and  feet, 
plumbeous  ;  hind  toe  present. 

Adult  plumage  in  fall  and  winter  —  Upper  parts,  dark  brown, 
with  irregular  white  markings,  most  numerous  on  the  wing- 
coverts ;  under  parts,  white,  marked  occasionally  with  dark 
feathers. 


Shore-bird  S booting  457 

Young  plumage  —  Upper  parts,  lighter  and  marked  with  yellow, 
with  white  spots  more  or  less  rounded ;  narrow  lines  on  neck 
and  breast,  more  numerous  ;  under  parts,  pure  white. 

Downy  young — Upper  parts,  olive-yellow,  spotted  with  black;  hind 
neck  and  lower  parts,  white ;  black  lines  on  side  of  crown,  from 
bill  to  eye,  and  below  eye. 

Measurements  —  Length,  1 1  inches ;  wing,  7.50  inches  ;  culmen,  1.25 
inches  ;  tarsus,  2  inches. 

Eggs  —  Four  in  number;  pyriform  in  shape;  ground  color,  light 
drab,  spotted  with  brown  ;  measure  2  by  1.40  inches. 

Habitat  —  Breeds  in  Russian  Lapland  and  northern  Siberia,  the 
Yukon  Delta  (?),  Franklin  Bay,  Melville  Peninsula,  and  probably 
northern  Greenland.  Winters  from  Portugal  and  the  coasts  of 
the  Mediterranean  to  South  Africa;  from  India  and  southern 
China  to  Australia ;  and  from  the  Bahamas,  West  Indies,  North 
Carolina,  Louisiana,  and  California,  south  to  Brazil,  Paraguay, 
and  Peru.  Occurs  throughout  the  United  States  in  migration, 
but  most  common  on  the  coast.  Occurs  also  in  Bermuda, 
Hawaii,  and  many  other  ocean  islands. 

The  clear,  plaintive  note  of  the  blackbreast  is 
the  most  musical  sound  of  the  shore  and  tells  of 
a  wild  bird.  Early  August  sees  the  first  small 
flocks,  and  from  Cape  Cod  to  North  Carolina 
they  are  found  where  the  falling  tide  leaves  ex- 
posed extensive  sand-flats  and  where  marshes 
and  wild  ocean  beaches  afford  a  resting-place  at 
high  water.  Its  whistle,  often  heard  before  the 
flock  is  seen,  warns  the  gunner  to  lie  low,  and 
soon  the  line  of  dark  birds  comes  in  view,  flying 
close  to  the  water  with  grace  and  speed,  heading 
straight  for  the  decoys.  One  or  two  on  set  wings 
circle  within  range,  but  quick  to  notice  the 
slightest  motion  are  up  and  off  while  you  hesi- 


458  The  Water-fowl  Family 

tate  a  second  for  a  closer  shot.  Make  the  most 
of  every  chance,  for  with  low  water  they  shy 
the  points,  and  follow  the  receding  tide  until  the 
furthermost  bars  are  exposed,  feeding  with  the 
throng  of  shore-birds  at  the  edge  of  the  flats. 
If  this  company  is  disturbed,  the  blackbreast  are 
the  first  to  take  alarm  and  leave.  A  little  shoot- 
ing quickly  teaches  them  danger,  and  few  birds 
become  more  wary :  flying  high  between  stopping- 
places,  they  keep  to  the  open  and  avoid  every- 
thing in  the  nature  of  a  blind.  Monomoy  Island, 
on  Cape  Cod,  was  formerly  a  favorite  resort  for 
these  birds.  Here  at  high  tide  the  flocks  con- 
gregated on  the  high  ocean  beach  in  hundreds, 
leaving  for  the  sand-bars  first  left  bare,  about  two 
hours  after  the  ebb,  timing  their  arrival  accurately 
with  the  tide.  The  constant  gunning  of  the  past 
few  years  has  greatly  decreased  their  numbers 
in  this  location  and  on  Long  Island.  On  the 
shores  of  Prince  Edward's  Island  and  the  adja- 
cent islands  in  the  gulf,  they  still  occur  in  some 
abundance,  following  down  the  coast  from  the 
breeding-grounds  ;  and  good  shooting  is  had  in 
the  first  two  weeks  of  August.  Here,  two  sum- 
mers ago,  I  enjoyed  my  last  day's  blackbreast- 
shooting.  The  tide  served  early,  and  we  sailed 
across  the  bay  some  three  miles  to  an  offshore 
island.  Several  seal  floundered  into  the  water 
from  its  farther  point.  The  bars  here  were  cov- 


Shore-bird  Shooting  459 

ered  with  the  tracks  of  plover,  and  soon  the 
familiar  note  was  heard.  There  was  barely  time 
to  make  our  blinds  of  seaweed  and  set  the  stool 
when  the  first  birds  appeared.  Blackbreast  in 
pairs  and  small  flocks,  occasionally  a  curlew  and 
yellowlegs,  followed  the  same  course  along  the 
edge  of  the  beach,  coming  within  range  of  the 
blind  if  permitted,  —  and  generally  they  were. 
For  a  short  time  the  shooting  was  fast,  and  then 
the  inevitable  tide  turned  the  flight  out  of  reach. 
We  killed  between  us  some  three  dozen  birds. 
The  young  blackbreast  arrive  in  these  same 
localities  early  in  September  and  are  easily  shot, 
coming  readily  to  decoys  and  answering  if  whis- 
tled to.  The  white  breast  gives  them  exactly 
the  opposite  appearance  of  the  old  bird,  and  with 
many  of  our  gunners  they  go  by  the  name  of 
"pale-belly."  As  late  as  October  we  find  them 
along  the  coast,  sometimes  in  large  flocks.  The 
migration  south  is  continued  through  the  West 
Indies  into  Brazil,  and  there  are  few  places  en 
route  where  the  birds  are  not  hunted.  On  the 
Californian  coast  the  black-breasted  plover  is 
abundant,  and  at  times  appears  in  large  numbers 
in  the  interior,  through  Manitoba  and  the  Missis- 
sippi Valley.  Occasionally  these  birds  are  seen 
in  the  fields,  where  they  feed  on  grasshoppers  and 
berries,  the  flesh  under  these  circumstances  at- 
taining its  highest  excellence.  In  the  spring  the 


460  The  Water-fowl  Family 

journey  north  is  taken  along  the  shores,  and  we 
hear  the  blackbreast  in  early  May  in  the  same 
places  he  left  a  few  months  since,  now  attired  in 
breeding  dress.  The  jet-black  of  the  breast  and 
the  bright  mottling  of  the  back  afford  a  plumage 
well  suited  to  one  of  our  gamiest  shore-birds. 
The  Arctic  countries,  from  the  Anderson  River 
region  across  the  continent  to  the  Melville  Pen- 
insula, Alaska,  and  northern  Siberia,  are  the 
nesting-places.  The  nest  is  placed  in  the  grass 
or  moss  on  the  ground,  and  the  eggs  are  laid  in 
June. 

Like  so  many  other  shore-birds,  the  male 
blackbreast  guards  the  female  while  she  is  incu- 
bating, performing  no  part  of  the  latter  duty  him- 
self. If  danger  threatens  he  warns  her,  but  keeps 
well  out  of  gunshot  himself,  even  though  he  lose 
all  his  family.  With  other  enemies  than  man  he 
is  more  brave,  boldly  attacking  gulls  that  may 
come  near  his  nest.  By  late  July  the  young  are 
fledged  and  the  old  birds  leave  them.  The  wide 
distribution  and  general  popularity  of  this  species 
have  given  it  a  number  of  names:  in  New  Eng- 
land and  Long  Island,  beetle-head,  beetle,  bull- 
head ;  on  Cape  Cod,  maycock ;  off  Virginia  and 
North  Carolina,  plot. 

This  species  is  common  throughout  northern 
Europe,  and  is  well  known  in  Great  Britain, 
France,  and  the  northern  coasts. 


Shore-bird  Shooting  461 

EUROPEAN    GOLDEN    PLOVER 

(Charadrius  apricarius) 

Adult  male  and  female  in  breeding  plumage  —  Top  of  head,  entire 
upper  parts,  black,  spotted  with  bright  yellow  and  white ;  wing- 
coverts,  brown,  more  sparingly  spotted  with  yellow  and  white ; 
primaries,  brown,  with  white  shafts ;  upper  tail-coverts,  black, 
irregularly  barred  with  gold ;  tail,  dark  grayish  brown,  barred 
with  white,  tinged  with  yellow  ;  a  white  line  from  forehead,  pass- 
ing over  the  eyes,  broadens  into  a  wide  patch  on  the  side  of 
breast;  sides  of  head,  neck,  throat,  and  under  parts,  black; 
under  tail-coverts,  white ;  axillary  plumes,  white ;  iris,  brown ; 
bill,  black ;  legs  and  feet,  plumbeous  ;  hind  toe  absent. 

Adult  in  fall  and  winter  —  Upper  parts  resemble  the  breeding 
plumage,  but  not  as  bright ;  under  parts,  white ;  lower  part  of 
neck  and  breast,  mottled  with  grayish  brown  feathers. 

Young — Upper  parts,  dusky,  mottled  with  dull  ashy  white  spots, 
becoming  yellow  on  the  rump  ;  under  parts,  ashy,  most  marked 
on  neck  and  breast,  becoming  white  below. 

Downy  young — Above,  golden-yellow  mottled  with  black;  lower 
parts,  spot  below  eye,  another  on  hind  neck,  and  streak  on  side 
of  back,  ashy  whitish  ;  down  of  breast,  blackish  at  base. 

Measurements  —  Length,  10  inches  ;  culmen,  I  inch  ;  wing,  7  inches  ; 
tarsus,  1.50  inches. 

Eggs  —  Four ;  pyriform  ;  creamy  white,  heavily  spotted  with  brown  ; 
measure  2  by  1.40  inches. 

Habitat — Breeds  from  Iceland,  Great  Britain,  and  central  Europe 
to  northern  Norway  and  western  Siberia.  Winters  from  Great 
Britain  and  central  Europe  to  the  Canary  Islands,  South  Africa, 
and  India.  Several  have  been  recorded  from  Greenland,  where 
they  may  breed. 

The  European  golden  plover  closely  resembles 
the  American  bird  in  plumage,  and  their  habits 
are  the  same.  Its  occurrence  in  Greenland,  where 
it  is  said  to  breed,  has  admitted  it  as  an  American 
bird. 


462  The  Water-fowl  Family 

Whether  breeding  on  the  inland  moors  of  the 
Hebrides  or  the  heather-covered  hills  of  Shetland, 
these  birds  have  their  housekeeping  affairs  well 
arranged.  The  female  cares  for  the  duties  of 
incubation,  while  the  male,  on  guard  a  short  dis- 
tance away,  gives  a  soft  whistle  to  warn  her  of 
approaching  danger;  then  both  leave  the  vicinity 
of  the  nest,  usually  long  before  the  sharpest  eye 
can  discern  where  their  treasures  lie.  Fresh  eggs 
may  be  found  from  the  end  of  April  to  the  begin- 
ning of  July,  many  birds  remaining  in  flocks  until 
well  into  the  breeding  season.  The  eggs  are  laid 
on  a  few  pieces  of  grass  and  heather  in  the  moss, 
but  sometimes  a  more  ambitious  architect  will 
fashion  from  these  materials  a  well-formed  and 
commodious  nest. 

AMERICAN   GOLDEN    PLOVER1 

{Charadrius  dominicits) 

The  various  plumages  of  the  American  golden  plover  closely  resemble 
the  species  just  described.  The  only  difference  in  the  breeding 
plumage  is  found  in  the  under  wing-coverts  and  axillary  plumes, 
which  are  gray  instead  of  white.  The  golden  spots  of  the  upper 
parts  are  usually  less  marked.  In  the  winter  plumage  and  the 
young  the  species  are  not  distinguishable  except  by  the  color 
of  the  axillaries. 

Measurements  —  Length,  10.50  inches;  wing,  7.09  inches;  culmen, 
.92  inch;  tarsus,  1.70  inches;  middle  toe,  .90  inch. 

Eggs  —  Four  in  number;  ground  color,  various  shades  of  drab, 
blotched  with  dark  brown  and  black,  the  markings  most 

1  This  species  is  fully  described  in  the  "  Upland  Game-Bird " 
volume  of  the  library. 


S bore-bird  Shooting  463 

abundant  around  the  larger  end;  they  measure  1.90  by  1.30 
inches. 

Habitat  —  Breeds  from  northwestern  Alaska,  possibly  northern 
British  Columbia  and  the  Barren  Grounds,  to  the  Parry  Islands 
and  probably  Greenland.  Winters  from  West  Indies  and 
Louisiana  to  Argentina,  Chili,  and  Patagonia.  In  the  United 
States  it  is  now  rare,  formerly  abundant  on  the  Atlantic  Coast 
north  of  North  Carolina  in  fall,  always  rare  farther  south,  and 
along  the  entire  coast  in  spring ;  common,  formerly  abundant, 
in  the  Mississippi  Valley,  and  rare  on  the  Pacific  Coast  in  both 
migrations,  but  has  been  recorded  as  far  west  as  the  Queen 
Charlotte  Islands.  Recorded  twice  from  Europe.  Formerly 
abundant  in  Bermuda  in  fall. 


PACIFIC    GOLDEN    PLOVER 
(  Charadrius  dominicus  fulvus) 

The  plumage  is  identical  with  the  American  golden  plover,  but  the 
golden  spots  on  the  upper  parts  are  more  marked.  The  bird 
is  slightly  smaller. 

Measurements  —  Length,  10.25  inches;  wing,  6.40  inches;  culmen, 
.92  inch;  tarsus,  1.70  inches;  middle  toe,  .90  inch. 

Eggs  —  Not  distinguishable  from  C.  dominicus. 

Habitat — Breeds  in  northern  Siberia,  from  the  Yenisei  River  east 
to  Bering  Straits  and  on  the  Alaskan  coast  of  Bering  Sea, 
occurring  also  on  the  Aleutian  and  Pribilof  islands  in  migra- 
tion. Winters  from  the  Hawaiian  Islands  and  China  south 
to  Oceanica,  New  Zealand,  Australia,  and  west  to  India,  and 
has  been  reported  several  times  from  Europe  and  once  from 
Algeria.  Occurs  in  flocks  in  Hawaii  throughout  the  year. 

This  is  an  Asiatic  form  of  the  American  bird, 
differing  from  it  in  its  smaller  size  and  more 
golden  markings.  It  occurs  on  the  islands  of 
Bering  Sea  and  on  the  Alaskan  Coast,  from  St. 
Michael  to  Kotzebue  Sound.  The  habits  of  the 
two  varieties  are  identical. 


464  The  Water-fowl  Family 

KILLDEER    PLOVER 

(AZgialitis  vociferd) 

Adult  male  and  female  in  breeding  and  winter  plumage  —  Top  of 
head  and  upper  parts,  grayish  brown,  inclining  to  umber ;  rump 
and  upper  tail-coverts,  rufous ;  forehead  and  broad  superciliary 
stripe,  throat,  nuchal  collar,  and  lower  parts,  white  ;  front  of 
the  crown,  loral  stripe  extending  toward  the  occiput,  collar 
around  the  neck,  and  band  across  breast,  black;  primaries, 
dusky,  the  inner  quills  marked  on  their  outer  webs  with  white ; 
tail,  pale  rufous  brown  variegated  with  white,  long,  marked 
with  a  subterminal  black  bar  with  white  tips,  the  middle  pair 
of  feathers  tipped  with  buff;  under  parts,  white;  bill,  black; 
iris,  brown;  eyelids,  red;  legs  and  feet,  grayish. 

Voting —  Resembles  the  adult,  but  the  feathers  of  the  upper  part 
more  or  less  marked  with  rusty. 

Downy  young — Upper  parts,  grayish  brown,  finely  speckled  with 
black;  forehead,  flanks,  and  lower  tail-coverts,  pale  brownish 
buff;  lines  on  lores,  surrounding  crown,  in  centre  of  back,  across 
wings,  on  sides,  and  around  neck,  broadening  on  chest,  black ; 
line  around  neck,  last  joint  of  wing,  and  rest  of  lower  parts,  white. 

Measurements  —  Length,  10  inches;  wing,  6.50  inches;  tail,  3.50 
inches;  tarsus,  1.50  inches;  culmen,  .75  inch. 

Eggs  —  Four  in  number ;  pyriform  in  shape  ;  ground  color,  pale  buff, 
profusely  blotched  with  brown,  most  marked  on  the  larger  end ; 
measure  1.65  by  1.13  inches. 

Habitat  —  Breeds  in  Lower  California,  Mexico,  and  Jamaica,  perhaps 
the  Bahamas,  and  throughout  the  United  States,  except  possibly 
southern  Florida,  north  to  Newfoundland,  Quebec,  Ontario, 
Hudson  Bay,  Saskatchewan,  and  British  Columbia ;  rare  in  the 
northeastern  portion  of  its  range.  Winters  from  New  Jersey, 
sometimes  Massachusetts,  Indiana,  Michigan,  Illinois,  Missouri, 
Texas,  Utah,  California,  and  the  coast  of  British  Columbia,  south 
to  Paraguay  and  Chili,  and  in  Bermuda.  Has  been  taken  in 
Great  Britain. 

While  not  uncommon  on  the  coast,  we  associ- 
ate the  killdeer  with  the  West,  a  graceful  orna- 


Shore-bird  Shooting  465 

ment  of  the  prairie,  following  the  plains  to  the 
Pacific  Coast,  and  passing  south  into  tropical 
America.  The  northern  limit  of  its  common 
range  is  the  Saskatchewan.  With  early  spring 
the  bird  arrives  in  most  of  its  resorts,  sometimes 
not  waiting  for  the  snow  to  leave.  It  frequents 
the  cattle  pastures  and  ploughed  ground,  gather- 
ing about  the  smaller  pools,  keeping,  for  the  most 
part,  on  the  ground  ;  few  birds  are  more  at  ease 
on  their  feet,  running  with  speed,  if  necessary 
taking  wing  lightly  with  quick  flight,  uttering  its 
plaintive  killdee  as  it  flies  from  possible  harm. 
The  bird  is  not  particularly  good  eating,  and 
hence  in  many  places  is  undisturbed.  In  Dakota 
I  have  seen  them  close  to  the  farms,  feeding 
within  a  few  feet  of  the  houses,  often  among  the 
chickens.  In  spite  of  the  bright,  attractive  color- 
ing of  its  plumage,  the  killdeer  is  occasionally 
difficult  to  see,  and  frequently  I  have  heard  the 
note  a  short  distance  off  without  noticing  the 
bird  until  it  flew.  On  the  barren  mesas  of  Mexico, 
wherever  there  is  water,  the  killdeer  are  very  com- 
mon, breeding  abundantly.  One  nest  I  found  lay 
in  the  very  centre  of  a  narrow  trail  which  was 
used  daily  by  herds  of  cattle  on  their  way  to 
water.  The  birds,  after  using  every  art  to  dis- 
tract the  attention,  alighted  on  the  ground  a  few 
feet  away,  and  in  piteous  notes  pleaded  for  their 
possession.  It  was  left  unmolested.  The  breed- 

2  H 


466  The  Water-fowl  Family 

ing-ground  is  general  throughout  the  range. 
The  young  run  and  hide  on  leaving  the  shell, 
and  few  little  chicks  have  more  devoted  parents. 
Along  the  coast  the  killdeer  comes  to  the  marshes 
and  rarely  is  seen  on  the  flats,  generally  prefer- 
ring the  fields  where  the  grass  is  short  and  grass- 
hoppers and  various  insects  abound.  Here  it  also 
feeds  on  little  worms  and  grubs.  In  localities 
where  the  life  of  every  bird  is  in  danger,  the  cry 
killdee  has  often  served  a  timely  warning,  and 
this  restless,  watchful  plover  has  started  many 
a  flock  of  unsuspecting  birds.  It  winters  regu- 
larly in  the  Southern  states,  and  some  few  brave 
the  cold  weather  of  the  North.  The  Bermudas 
and  West  Indies  see  them  at  this  time,  and  many 
pass  into  Central  America. 

Toward  the  end  of  November,  1888,  large 
numbers  of  this  species  appeared  on  the  Atlan- 
tic Coast  from  Nova  Scotia  to  Long  Island,  New 
York,  having  been  carried  north  by  a  storm. 
None  of  these  birds  were  found  far  in  the  in- 
terior, and  most  of  them  disappeared  in  a  few 
days,  although  a  few  lingered  until  March  on  the 
New  England  coast. 

SEMIPALMATED    PLOVER 
(/Egialitis  semipalmatd) 

Adult  male  in  spring  and  fall  plumage — Front,  throat,  ring  around 
the  neck,  and  under  parts,  white;  a  black  band  crosses  the 
breast,  extending  around  the  back  of  the  neck,  below  the  white 


Shore-bird  Shooting  467 

ring ;  a  band  from  the  base  of  the  bill,  beneath  the  eye,  and  a 
wide  band  in  front,  above  the  white  band,  black ;  upper  parts, 
grayish  brown ;  quills,  dark  with  shafts  white ;  greater  coverts, 
tipped  with  white ;  middle  tail  feathers,  brown  with  a  wide  sub- 
terminal  dark  band  and  narrowly  tipped  with  white ;  two  outer 
tail  feathers,  white ;  others,  intermediate,  broadly  tipped  with 
white;  bill,  black  with  orange  base;  legs  and  feet,  grayish ;  a 
web  between  the  outer  toes  and  the  middle  ones,  reaching  to 
the  second  joint ;  iris,  brown. 

female  —  Similar  in  plumage,  but  somewhat  lighter.  In  the  young, 
the  black  is  replaced  by  grayish  brown,  and  the  upper  parts  are 
lighter. 

Downy  young — Upper  parts,  pale  grayish  brown,  finely  mottled  with 
black ;  forehead,  cream  color ;  broad  band  around  neck,  last 
joint  of  wing,  and  lower  parts,  white ;  line  from  bill  encircling 
crown,  and  spot  before  eye  and  on  side  of  chest,  black ;  fore- 
head, cream  color. 

Measurements  —  Length,  7  inches;  wing,  4.75  inches;  culmen,  .50 
inch ;  tarsus,  I  inch. 

Eggs  —  Four  in  number ;  ground  color,  drab,  with  blotches  of  black ; 
measure  1.20  by  .95  inches. 

Habitat — Breeds  from  Sable  Island,  the  Gulf  of  St.  Lawrence 
(possibly  Grand  Manan),  Ontario,  northern  Manitoba,  and  As- 
siniboia,  north  to  Greenland,  Cumberland,  Fort  Anderson,  and 
the  interior  of  Alaska ;  most  abundant  near  the  Atlantic  Coast. 
Winters  from  the  West  Indies,  Florida,  Louisiana,  and  Lower 
California,  south  to  Patagonia,  Chili,  and  the  Galapagos,  some 
reaching  South  America  by  July  7.  In  migrations  most  abun- 
dant on  the  Atlantic  Coast,  but  not  rare  in  the  interior  or  on 
the  Pacific  Coast  south  of  the  Aleutian  Islands.  Occurs  also 
in  northeastern  Siberia,  Greenland,  and  Bermuda. 

A  social,  friendly  little  plover,  well  known 
along  our  coast,  where  its  sudden  sharp  note  has 
made  many  a  gunner  start  in  the  expectation  of 
something  bigger,  only  to  see  a  ring-neck  dart 
over  his  decoys.  This  species  associates  com- 


468  The  Water-fowl  Family 

monly  with  the  small  fry,  and  can  generally  be 
seen  among  flocks  of  peep,  feeding  at  the  water's 
edge  on  the  flats  and  beaches,  gentle  and  unsus- 
pecting, paying  little  attention  to  the  outside 
world.  Running  rapidly,  perhaps  stopping  to 
take  in  the  situation,  when,  if  occasion  require,  it 
takes  graceful  wing  and  speeds  to  some  safe  spot. 
The  ring-neck  looks  much  like  a  miniature  kill- 
deer,  and  on  dark  sand  is  often  difficult  to  notice, 
provided  the  bird  remains  motionless.  While 
partial  to  the  shore,  this  species  is  found  inland 
on  nearly  any  small  body  of  water,  seeking  its 
food  of  little  water  insects  and  bugs  or  tiny  shell- 
fish at  the  edge  of  the  beach.  If  the  flock  is 
startled,  all  take  flight  at  the  instant,  showing 
dark  as  the  light  strikes  the  back,  and  white 
when  the  breasts  suddenly  turn  into  sight.  These 
birds  pass  far  to  the  north,  breeding  within  the 
Arctic  circle,  on  the  interior  watercourses,  and 
near  the  coast,  from  Greenland  to  Alaska.  The 
nest  is  on  the  ground,  where  a -little  hollow  is 
scooped  out  for  the  eggs,  and  these  are  placed  on 
dead  leaves,  the  parents  guarding  well  their  treas- 
ure, and  when  the  chicks  are  hatched,  showing 
every  devotion  to  them.  Late  in  July  we  see 
them  throughout  our  boundaries,  and  by  early 
August  some  have  reached  the  coast  of  Florida. 
They  keep  on  the  southern  journey  through  the 
West  Indies  to  South  America,  scattering  through 


Shore-bird  Shooting  469 

the  interior  and  occurring  on  both  the  Atlantic 
and  Pacific  shores.  This  species  is  also  known 
as  the  ring-neck  plover. 


EUROPEAN    RING    PLOVER 

(ALgialitis  hiaticuld) 

Adult  male  and  female  —  Similar  to  the  ring-neck  plover,  AL.  semi- 
palmata,  but  larger.  The  plumage  differs  in  that  the  European 
variety  has  a  white  spot  behind  the  eye,  and  the  dark  band 
across  the  chest  is  broader.  The  semipalmation  reaches  only 
to  the  first  joint. 

Downy  young — Similar  to  AZ.  semipalmata,  but  forehead,  white. 

Measurements  —  Length,  7  inches;  wing,  4.75  inches;  oilmen,  .50 
inch ;  tarsus,  I  inch. 

Eggs  —  Similar  in  color  and  shape  to  the  American  variety,  and 
measure  1.40  by  1.05  inches. 

Habitat  —  Breeds  from  western  and  central  Europe  and  Turkestan, 
north  to  Taimur  Peninsula,  Siberia,  Nova  Zembla,  Spitzbergen, 
Iceland,  Greenland,  Cumberland,  and  possibly  Sabine  Island. 
Winters  on  the  shores  of  the  Mediterranean  and  throughout 
Africa.  Has  been  recorded  from  Barbadoes,  Chili,  India,  and 
Australia,  and  is  said  to  breed  on  the  Red  Sea. 

Included  in  the  North  American  fauna  on 
account  of  its  breeding  on  the  American  side  of 
Davis  Bay. 

In  the  breeding  season  this  species  keeps  close 
to  the  beaches,  as  it  does  most  of  the  year,  using 
for  a  nest  a  slight  hollow  in  the  sand  lined  with 
small  pebbles  or  pieces  of  shell,  or,  where  the  cliffs 
skirt  the  shore,  bare,  gravelly  places  on  the  hillside. 
A  remarkable  instance  of  the  persistent  brooding 
of  the  ringed  plover  is  recorded  in  Poyn ting's 


470  The  Water-fowl  Family 

"  Eggs  of  British  Birds."  A  bird  was  found  sit- 
ting on  a  nest  containing  only  four  beer-bottle 
corks  on  May  26,  and  though  the  nest  was  fre- 
quently visited  and  the  corks  thrown  out,  they 
were  found  invariably  again  in  the  nest  and  the 
bird  on  them  up  to  July  26. 


LITTLE    RING    PLOVER 

{jEgialitis  dubia) 

Adult  male  and  female — Similar  in  plumage  to  the  semipalmated 
plover,  JE.  semipalmata,  but  the  white  on  the  primaries  is  con- 
fined to  the  shaft,  and  a  white  bar  borders  posteriorly  the  black 
band  on  crown ;  bill,  entirely  black  ;  legs  and  feet,  dull  yellow. 

Measurements  —  Length,  6  inches;  wing,  4.50  inches;  tail,  2.50 
inches;  culmen,  .50  inch;  tarsus,  I  inch. 

Eggs  —  Four ;  pale  buff,  finely  spotted  with  dark  brown  and  gray ; 
measure  1.20  by  .90  inches. 

Habitat  —  Breeds  from  southern  Europe,  central  Asia,  and  Japan 
north  to  latitude  60°  in  Siberia  and  Europe,  excepting  Great 
Britain  and  Ireland.  Winters  in  northern  and  central  Africa, 
India,  and  south  to  the  Malay  Archipelago.  Has  been  recorded 
from  Great  Britain,  Alaska,  and  California. 

A  European  species  straggling  to  the  coast  of 
Alaska  and  California,  and  hence  listed  among 
the  North  American  birds. 

In  its  breeding  habits  and  eggs,  this  bird  closely 
resembles  our  piping  plover,  and,  like  that  species, 
is  seldom  found  on  its  eggs  during  the  day. 
For  its  summer  home  it  prefers  the  sandy  shores 
of  large  rivers  and  lakes  to  those  of  the  ocean. 
In  the  mating  season  the  male  soars  in  the  air 


Shore-bird  Shooting  471 

like  a  skylark,  uttering  its  love-song  as  it  rises 
higher  and  higher,  and  then  slowly  returns  to  the 
ground. 

PIPING  PLOVER 

(/Egialitis  melodd) 

Adult  male  —  Between  the  eyes,  over  the  forehead,  is  a  band  of 
black  and  another  about  the  back  of  the  neck  and  sides  of  the 
breast ;  forehead,  neck,  above  the  broken,  black  band,  and  entire 
under  parts,  white ;  top  of  head,  ear-coverts,  back,  and  wings, 
ashy  gray  tinged  with  brown  ;  rump  and  upper  tail-coverts,  white ; 
primaries,  dark  brown  ;  shafts  and  inner  webs,  white  ;  tail,  white 
at  base  marked  by  a  subterminal  black  band  on  all  but  the  two 
outer  feathers,  which  are  white;  bill,  yellowish  orange  with  a 
black  tip  ;  legs  and  feet,  yellowish  orange ;  iris,  brown. 

Female  —  Similar  to  the  male  in  plumage,  but  the  black  bars  have 
a  brownish  hue  and  are  more  indistinct. 

Young — Without  the  black  band;  collar  around  the  back  of  the 
neck,  ashy  brown. 

Measurements —  Length,  7  inches  ;  wing,  4.50  inches  ;  tail,  2  inches  ; 
oilmen,  .50  inch ;  tarsus,  .90  inch  ;  middle  toe,  .75  inch. 

Eggs  —  Four  in  number ;  ground  color,  light  cream,  over  which  are 
fine  markings  of  black  ;  measure  1.20  by  I  inches. 

Habitat  —  Breeds  from  the  coast  of  Florida,  locally,  north  to  the 
Magdalen  Islands  and,  probably,  southern  Labrador,  Lake  Erie, 
Lake  Michigan,  and  in  Cuba  and  the  Bahamas.  Winters  in  the 
Bahamas,  West  Indies,  Florida,  and  Texas,  and  accidentally  in 
Massachusetts.  Recorded  from  Bermuda,  Greenland,  Hudson 
Bay,  and  Alaska.  In  migration  east  to  the  Bermudas  and  west 
to  North  Dakota  and  probably  Manitoba. 

Common  throughout  the  eastern  United  States, 
and  breeding  through  the  maritime  provinces  of 
Canada  to  Florida,  this  bird  frequents  the  sandy 
stretches  of  ocean  beach,  nesting  among  the  drift 
on  the  sand.  The  eggs  so  resemble  in  color  their 


472  The  Water-fowl  Family 

surroundings,  it  is  almost  impossible  to  distinguish 
them.  At  the  approach  of  danger  the  old  bird 
slips  from  the  nest,  and  running  quietly  off,  rises 
at  some  distance,  betraying  its  anxiety  in  plaintive 
cries  and  attempting  to  distract  the  attention  of 
the  intruder  to  itself.  It  is  believed  by  some  to 
cover  its  eggs  only  at  night  and  in  stormy  weather, 
relying  on  the  sun  to  assist  in  incubation.  The 
young  are  hatched  in  July,  and  the  little  chicks 
keep  high  up  on  the  beach  at  first,  but  when  they 
are  fledged  follow  the  parents  to  the  water's  edge, 
where  they  feed  on  insects  abounding  in  the  soft 
sand,  left  wet  by  receding  surf.  In  August,  gath- 
ering in  small  flocks,  they  occasionally  straggle  to 
the  flats  inside  and  associate  with  the  ring-neck 
and  peep.  The  young  birds  resemble  the  adults 
closely  in  plumage,  but  are  without  the  black 
markings  on  the  neck  and  head.  They  begin  the 
migration  south  about  three  weeks  after  the  old 
birds,  appearing  in  limited  numbers  on  the  New 
England  and  Long  Island  coasts  early  in  Sep- 
tember. From  their  abundance  farther  north  and 
the  scarcity  here,  it  would  seem  that  many  keep 
on  their  migration  until  more  southern  climes  are 
reached. 

This  species  also  occurs  in  the  interior  in  the 
vicinity  of  the  Great  Lakes,  following  the  Missis- 
sippi Valley  south.  In  the  extreme  of  its  western 
range,  it  comes  into  contact  with  the  western 


Shore-bird  Shooting  473 

variety,  the  belted  piping  plover.     After  the  early 
fall  we  do  not  see  them  again  until  May. 

BELTED    PIPING    PLOVER 

(ALgialitis  meloda  circumcinctd) 

Adult  male  and  female  —  Resembles  the  plumage  of  the  piping 
plover,  jE.  meloda,  but  has  a  continuous  black  ring  about  the 
neck,  which  in  the  piping  plover  is  interrupted.  There  is  no 
difference  in  size  between  the  two  varieties. 

Downy  young — Upper  parts,  pale  cream-buff,  speckled  with  blackish  ; 
forehead,  sides  of  head,  band  around  neck,  last  joint  of  wing, 
and  lower  parts,  white;  line  around  nape,  on  wings,  sides  of 
rump,  and  tail,  black. 

Eggs  —  Similar  to  those  of  the  piping  plover. 

Habitat — Breeds  on  Sable  Island,  the  Magdalen  Islands,  Ontario, 
Indiana,  and  Illinois,  to  Lake  Winnipeg,  possibly  Hudson  Bay, 
Assiniboia,  North  Dakota,  Wyoming,  and  Nebraska.  Winters 
in  Texas,  Louisiana,  and  probably  the  West  Indies.  Migrates 
chiefly  through  the  Mississippi  Valley,  but  occurs  on  the  Atlantic 
Coast  from  Maine  to  South  Carolina.  Typical  specimens  do 
not  breed  east  of  Lake  Erie,  but  intermediates  nest  on  the 
Atlantic  Coast  from  North  Carolina  to  the  Magdalen  Islands. 

The  western  variety  of  the  common  piping 
plover.  This  bird  is  common  in  Manitoba  and 
our  Western  states,  along  the  Mississippi  Valley, 
into  Texas.  It  occasionally  straggles  to  the 
Atlantic  coast.  The  habits  are  precisely  similar 
to  those  of  its  eastern  relative. 

SNOWY    PLOVER 

(^Egialitis  nivosa) 

Adult  male  —  Forehead,  superciliary  region,  indistinct  collar  on  back 
of  neck,  and  lower  parts  entire,  pure  white ;  a  band  across  the 
fore  part  of  crown,  auriculars,  and  patch  on  each  side  of  the 


474  The  Water-fowl  Family 

breast,  black  ;  upper  parts,  gray ;  crown  and  occiput,  occasion- 
ally tinged  with  buff;  primaries,  dusky  with  white  shafts;  the 
two  outer  tail  feathers,  white,  the  rest  gradually  growing  darker 
to  the  inner  pair,  which  are  dusky. 

Adult  female  —  Similar  to  the  male,  but  without  the  distinct  black 
markings ;  sometimes  these  are  wanting ;  bill  and  eyelids,  in 
both,  black ;  iris,  brown ;  legs,  slate  color ;  inside  of  mouth, 
fleshy  white. 

Young —  Without  the  black  markings,  which  are  replaced  by  ashy ; 
upper  parts,  lighter. 

Downy  young — Upper  parts,  pale  grayish  buff,  mottled  with  black; 
a  dusky  streak  behind  eye ;  forehead,  band  around  neck,  last 
joint  of  wing  and  lower  parts,  white. 

Measurements  —  Length,  6.50  inches;  wing,  4.25  inches;  culmen, 
.60  inch ;  tarsus,  I  inch ;  middle  toe,  .50  inch 

Eggs  —  Four  in  number ;  ground  color,  light  drab,  finely  dotted  with 
black  about  the  larger  end;  measure  1.18  by  .95  inches. 

Habitat  —  Breeds  from  southern  and  central  California  and  Utah, 
and  possibly  Wyoming,  to  western  Nebraska  (?),  southern  Kan- 
sas and  Texas,  and  probably  western  Florida,  and  possibly  in 
Central  and  South  America.  Winters  from  southern  California 
and  Louisiana,  south  on  both  coasts  of  Central  America  to  Vene- 
zuela, Chili,  and  Paraguay.  Recorded  from  Cuba  and  Ontario. 

The  snowy  plover  is  found  on  the  coast  of 
southern  California,  inland  as  far  as  the  Great 
Salt  Lake.  It  is  abundant  on  the  ocean  beaches, 
frequenting  the  high,  dry  sand,  and  has  many  of 
the  habits  of  the  piping  plover.  The  bird  is  gen- 
erally silent,  and  the  soft  coloring  of  its  plumage 
blends  perfectly  with  the  surroundings.  Along 
the  California  shore  this  plover  remains  through 
the  winter,  breeding  in  May.  The  nest  is  a  mere 
depression  in  the  sand,  and  several  pair  are  often 
found  in  a  comparatively  small  area.  The  eggs 


Shore-bird  Shooting  475 

resemble  exactly  the  coloring  of  the  beach  and 
are  very  difficult  to  see.  The  old  birds,  after  the 
manner  of  other  birds  of  the  family,  feign  wounded 
and  try  every  means  to  get  their  enemy  away. 
The  young  are  hatched  in  early  August  and  at 
once  accompany  their  parents  in  search  for  sand- 
bugs,  feeding  on  the  little  insects  that  abound  on 
the  beach,  running  quickly  away  from  the  pur- 
suer, or  settling  motionless  on  the  sand,  where 
they  easily  escape  observation.  The  snowy  plover 
is  found  also  on  the  interior  bodies  of  water  near 
the  coast,  and  is  very  abundant  in  the  Salt  Lake 
region.  In  May,  1901,  I  shot  a  pair  of  these  birds, 
feeding  on  the  edge  of  a  lake,  near  Chihuahua, 
Mexico,  in  company  with  a  number  of  larger 
birds,  teal  and  avocets ;  they  were  the  only  ones 
seen. 

MONGOLIAN    PLOVER 

(jEgialitis  mongola) 

Adult  male  —  Forehead,  a  broad  band  beneath  the  eye  extending 
over  the  ear-coverts,  black;  a  narrow  frontal  band  of  black 
from  the  culmen  to  the  upper  anterior  margin  of  the  eye; 
between  this  and  the  stripe  below  is  a  stripe  of  white ;  lower 
eyelid,  white ;  stripe  from  behind  the  eye,  buff,  becoming  rufous  ; 
crown  and  back  of  neck,  brownish  gray,  mottled  with  rufous ;  a 
narrow  collar  of  bright  cinnamon  about  the  neck,  broadening 
on  to  the  breast ;  upper  parts  and  wings,  grayish  brown  with  a 
faint  tinge  of  green ;  tips  of  greater  wing-coverts,  white,  form- 
ing a  bar ;  primaries,  dark  brown ;  upper  tail-coverts,  grayish 
in  the  centre,  laterally  white ;  tail,  central  feathers  dark  gray, 
grading  to  white  on  the  outer  feathers ;  each  feather,  except  the 


476  The  Water-fowl  Family 

two  central,  tipped  with  white  ;  entire  under  parts,  white ;  bill, 

black  ;  legs  and  feet,  olive-gray  ;  iris,  brown. 
Adult  female  —  Similar,  but  rufous  paler,  and  less  sharply  marked  ; 

and  black  markings  on  head  less  distinct. 
Winter  plumage  —  The  cinnamon  and  bright  brown  are  replaced 

by  gray ;  the  black  markings  of  the  head  in  the  spring  plumage 

are  replaced  by  grayish  brown. 
Young —  Similar  to  winter  plumage,  but  a  bufFy  suffusion  to  plumage, 

and  feathers  of  upper  parts  bordered  with  buff. 
Measurements  —  Length,  6.75  inches;  wing,  5.50  inches;  culmen, 

.75  inch;  tarsus,  1.25  inches;  middle  toe,  .75  inch;  tail,  2.50 

inches. 
Habitat  —  Breeds    in  northeastern   Siberia  and    the    Commander 

Islands.     Winters   from  the  Philippine  Islands  to   Australia, 

passing  through  China  and  Japan  in  migration.     Two  were 

taken  on  the  Choris  Peninsula,  Alaska,  in  1849. 


Dr.  Stejneger  found  this  species  breeding 
abundantly  on  Bering  Island,  where  it  arrives 
early  in  May.  In  its  habits  it  much  resembles 
some  of  our  own  small  plover,  running  rapidly 
along  the  beach  if  pursued,  and  running  also 
from  its  nest  before  it  is  possible  to  mark  the 
exact  location  of  the  latter.  A  nest  taken  early 
in  June  contained  three  eggs,  and  was  situated 
near  the  shore  on  a  small  island.  Dry  pieces  of 
leaves,  stems,  and  the  seeds  of  a  plant  growing 
near  formed  the  nest,  which  was  placed  in  a  slight 
hollow  in  the  ground.  One  note  of  this  bird  is 
a  clear,  sharp  whistle.  The  bird  is  common  on 
the  Commander  Islands  and  has  straggled  to 
Alaska. 


Shore-bird  Shooting 


477 


WILSON  S    PLOVER 
(jEgialitis  wilsonia) 

Adult  male  —  Forehead  and  line  over  eye,  white;  crescentric  patch 
on  forehead,  and  a  band  across  the  jugulum,  black ;  throat  and 
under  parts,  pure  white ;  back  of  head,  back,  wings,  and  rump, 
brownish  gray,  darkest  on  head;  greater  wing-coverts  tipped 
with  white  forming  a  bar;  iris,  brown;  bill,  black;  legs  and 
feet,  yellowish. 

Female  —  Resembles  the  male,  but  the  black  markings  are  replaced 
by  brownish ;  the  breast  is  tinged  with  buff. 

Young —  Similar  to  adult  female,  but  feathers  of  upper  parts  edged 
with  paler. 

Downy  young — Upper  parts,  grayish  buff,  mottled  with  black;  fore- 
head, sides  of  head,  band  around  neck,  last  joint  of  wing  and 
lower  parts,  white ;  a  black  line  behind  eye. 

Measurements  —  Length,  7.50  inches;  wing,  4.50  inches;  culmen, 
.75  inch;  tarsus,  1.25  inches;  middle  toe,  .75  inch. 

Eggs  —  Two  to  four  in  number  ;  ground  co!6r  a  deep  drab  with  black 
markings,  most  marked  about  the  larger  end ;  measure  1 .45  by 
i  inches. 

Habitat  —  Ranges  on  the  coast  of  North  and  South  America  from 
Virginia,  casually  north  to  Nova  Scotia,  to  Brazil,  and  from 
Lower  California,  casually  north  to  San  Diego  County,  Cali- 
fornia, south  to  Peru,  and  in  the  Bahamas  and  West  Indies. 
Breeds  probably  throughout  its  range,  and  is  a  resident  in  the 
Bahamas  and  West  Indies  and  from  Louisiana  and  Texas  south. 
Reported  from  Vermont. 

The  southern  coast  of  the  United  States  is  the 
home  of  the  Wilson's  plover ;  here  they  are  abun- 
dant and  frequent  the  ocean  beaches,  going  in 
winter  to  South  America,  and  from  Lower  Cali- 
fornia to  Peru.  In  May,  near  Cobb's  Island,  this 
plover  was  one  of  the  commonest  beach-birds, 
and  though  mated  and  breeding  seemed  to  keep 


The  Water-fowl  Family 

in  colonies.  Here  in  many  places  the  tide  of  the 
bay  rises  to  the  inner  edge  of  the  outer  beach, 
and  it  was  along  this  inside  flat,  close  to  the 
ocean,  the  birds  were  most  numerous,  feeding  on 
the  wet  sand.  I  seldom  saw  them  at  the  edge  of 
the  breaking  waves.  The  nests  were  on  .the  high 
beach,  slight  depressions  in  the  ground,  and  the 
eggs  so  exactly  like  the  surroundings  it  was  almost 
impossible  to  see  them.  They  allowed  us  to  ap- 
proach within  a  few  feet,  then  ran  off,  —  while 
danger  threatened  keeping  up  a  plaintive  note  of 
distress.  This  species  is  readily  distinguished 
from  the  other  small  plover  by  its  large  and  rather 
long  bill. 

MOUNTAIN    PLOVER 

(AZgialitis  montana) 

Adult  male  and  female  in  breeding  plumage  —  Forehead  and  stripe 
over  the  eye,  and  entire  lower  parts,  white ;  somewhat  soiled 
beneath ;  fore  part  of  crown  and  a  line  from  bill  to  the  eye, 
black ;  rest  of  crown  and  entire  upper  parts,  grayish  brown,  the 
feathers  tinged  occasionally  with  reddish  buff;  tail,  dusky; 
shafts  of  primaries,  white  ;  iris,  brown  ;  bill,  black ;  feet,  yellow. 

Winter  plumage  —  Similar,  but  the  black  markings  on  the  head  are 
absent  and  the  plumage  is  more  tinged  with  buff. 

Young —  Similar,  but  feathers  of  upper  parts  edged  with  buffy  ;  side 
of  head,  neck,  and  chest,  cream-buff. 

Downy  young —  Upper  parts,  brownish  buff,  mottled  with  black ; 
lower  parts,  pale  buff. 

Measurements  —  Length,  8.50  inches;  wing,  6  inches;  culmen,  .85 
inch;  tarsus,  1.50  inches;  middle  toe,  .75  inch. 

Eggs  —  Three  in  number;  ground  color,  dark  drab  marked  with 
black  spots  about  the  larger  end;  measure  1.40  by  i.io  inches. 

Habitat  —  Breeds  from  Arizona,  eastern  New  Mexico,  Indian  Terri- 


Shore-bird  Shooting  479 

tory  and  western  Kansas  north  to  the  Canadian  boundary  in 
central  Montana,  and  probably  west  to  Utah  and  south  into 
Mexico.  Winters  from  western  Texas  to  central  Mexico  and 
from  the  interior  of  central  California  into  Lower  California. 
Accidental  in  Florida. 

Fond  of  the  plains,  this  species  is  common  on 
the  table-lands  of  the  Rocky  Mountains  and  in 
the  southwestern  deserts  of  the  United  States, 
breeding  in  these  locations.  The  birds  are  gentle, 
and  when  approached  run  out  of  harm's  way 
rather  than  fly.  They  may  stand  perfectly  mo- 
tionless, trusting  in  the  resemblance  of  their 
plumage  to  the  surroundings  to  protect  them. 
The  flight  is  low  down,  the  plover  sailing  on 
curved  wings,  and  running  for  a  few  steps  after  it 
has  alighted.  The  nest  is  placed  on  the  ground 
and  contains  three  eggs.  After  the  young  are 
fledged,  in  July,  this  species  collect  in  small  flocks, 
keeping  mostly  to  the  prairie  and  barren  plains, 
feeding  on  various  insects,  grasshoppers,  and 
crickets,  from  which  diet  they  become  fat  and 
excellent.  With  the  frosts  and  cold  weather  the 
birds  pass  to  the  south,  keeping  pretty  much  to 
the  high,  dry  mesa.  In  May,  1901,  I  saw  a  pair 
of  mountain  plover  in  one  of  these  locations  in 
northern  Mexico,  where  they  were  evidently  nest- 
ing. They  ran  ahead  of  the  horses  a  few  feet,  then 
turned  to  one  side  and  stood  still  as  we  passed. 
Rarely  this  species  has  been  taken  in  Florida,  and 
occasionally  resorts  to  the  plains  close  to  the  coast. 


CHAPTER    XII 

SHORE-BIRD   SHOOTING  (CONTINUED) 

THE  TURNSTONES  AND  SURF  BIRDS 

(Aphrizida) 

THIS  is  another  small  family  of  but  four  species, 
all  of  which  occur  in  North  America,  and  three 
are  confined  to  the  New  World.  They  are  all 
small  birds,  frequenting  almost  exclusively  the 
ocean  beaches  or  the  rocks  lining  the  coast,  and 
have  earned  the  name  of  turnstone  by  their  habit 
of  turning  over  pebbles  in  search  of  the  insects 
beneath.  All  breed  in  the  far  North,  wandering 
over  most  of  the  earth's  surface  in  autumn  and 
winter.  The  ruddy  turnstone  is  the  only  species 
found  in  eastern  North  America,  and  in  this  the 
striking  plumage  of  the  male,  his  back  of  black 
and  rufous,  black  breast,  white  abdomen,  black 
bill,  and  red  legs  will  arouse  the  admiration  of 
any  one  in  whom  custom  has  not  dulled  the  eye 
for  beauty. 

In  many  structural  peculiarities  these  birds  re- 
semble the  plovers,  but  they  may  be.  recognized 
by  their  rather  pointed  bills,  their  legs  with  trans- 
verse scales  in  front,  the  presence  of  a  hind  toe, 

480 


Shore-bird  Shooting  481 

and  the  absence  of  a  web  between  the  anterior 
toes.  Their  whistle  is  clear  and  loud  and  given 
more  often  by  a  single  bird  than  by  a  member  of 
the  large  flocks  in  which  the  turnstones  some: 
times  assemble. 

SURF  BIRD 

{Aphriza  virgata) 

Adult  male  and  female  in  summer  plumage  —  Head,  neck,  and  back, 
spotted  and  streaked  with  dusky  and  white,  the  white  predom- 
inating on  the  head,  neck,  and  breast,  where  the  darker  mark- 
ings are  in  irregular  streaks,  but  in  the  form  of  crescentric  bars 
on  the  back  and  lower  breast;  scapulars  marked  with  large, 
irregular  spots  of  rufous ;  wing-coverts,  grayish  brown ;  tips  of 
greater  coverts,  white,  forming  a  bar  across  the  wing ;  primaries, 
blackish  brown  with  white  shafts ;  rump,  brown,  indistinctly 
tipped  with  white ;  upper  tail-coverts,  white ;  tail,  white  on  the 
base,  the  remaining  half,  black;  abdomen,  white;  flanks  and 
lower  tail-coverts,  white  with  black  spots ;  bill,  black  with  yel- 
lowish base  ;  legs  and  feet,  yellowish  ;  iris,  brown. 

Winter  plumage  —  Head,  neck,  and  upper  parts,  slate  color ;  rest,  as 
in  summer. 

Young —  Upper  part,  brownish  gray,  the  feathers  edged  with  whitish  ; 
throat,  neck,  and  breast  white,  streaked  with  gray  ;  rest  of  lower 
part  and  upper  tail-coverts,  white ;  wings  and  tail,  as  in  adult. 

Measurements  —  Length,  10  inches  ;  wing,  7  inches ;  culmen,  I  inch  ; 
tarsus,  1.25  inches;  middle  toe,  .90  inch. 

Eggs  —  Unknown. 

Habitat  —  Breeds  probably  in  the  interior  of  northwestern  Alaska. 
Winters  in  South  America,  occurring  in  migration  along  the 
Pacific  Coast  of  North  and  South  America,  from  the  Kowak 
River,  Alaska,  to  Chili  and  the  Straits  of  Magellan. 

The  surf  bird  ranges  along  the  Pacific  Coast 
of  North  and  South  America,  but  is  apparently 
everywhere  rare,  and  little  is  known  of  its  habits. 
21 


482  The  Water-fowl  Family 

The  breeding-place  has  not  been  discovered.  It 
has  been  taken  in  Alaska,  at  St.  Michael,  and 
near  Sitka,  also  at  the  mouth  of  the  Columbia 
River.  Another  name  for  this  species  is  the 
plover-billed  turnstone. 

The  natives  of  Kotzebue  Sound  and  St.  Michael, 
Alaska,  say  that  this  bird  breeds  near  small  lakes 
on  the  tundra,  twenty  to  thirty  miles  back  from 
the  coast.  It  is  a  shy  and  solitary  bird,  with  much 
the  habits  of  the  wandering  tattler,  inhabiting 
rocky  shores  and  small  islands  off  the  coast. 

TURNSTONE 
(Arenaria  interpret) 

Adult  male  and  female  —  Chin  and  throat,  a  large  spot  on  lores,  ear- 
coverts,  back  of  neck  and  upper  part  of  back  on  each  side  of 
breast,  white;  the  crown  marked  with  black  streaks;  rest  of 
head,  sides,  and  upper  part  of  breast,  black  ;  back  and  scapulars, 
black,  their  centre  marked  with  brown ;  lesser  wing-coverts, 
brown ;  greater  coverts,  black,  broadly  edged  with  white  form- 
ing a  bar  across  the  wing ;  primaries,  brown  tipped  with  white  ; 
rump,  white ;  tail,  white  with  subterminal  black  band,  tipped 
with  white ;  under  parts,  pure  white ;  bill,  black ;  feet  and  legs, 
vermilion ;  iris,  brown. 

The  plumage  differs  greatly  in  brilliancy  in  different  individu- 
als, the  variations  being  in  the*  distinctness  of  the  black  markings 
and  the  presence  of  rufous  brown  on  the  back. 

Winter  plumage  —  Similar  to  the  above,  but  the  black  feathers  are 
edged  with  white  and  the  back  less  marked  with  brown. 

Young — Head,  mottled  gray;  upper  parts,  dusky,  the  feathers 
bordered  with  buff;  jugulum  and  breast,  mottled  dusky;  under 
parts,  pure  white  ;  iris,  brown  ;  legs  and  feet,  reddish. 

Downy  young —  Upper  parts,  blackish  gray,  slightly  washed  with 
yellowish,  and  some  of  the  feathers  tipped  with  black ;  line  on 


Shore-bird  Shooting  483 

crown,  another  from  bill  to  eye,  and  spot  on  nape,  black ;  lower 
parts,  white  ;  sides  of  head,  white. 

Measurements  —  Length,  9  inches  ;  wing,  6.25  inches  ;  culmen,  .90 
inch ;  tarsus,  I  inch ;  middle  toe,  .75  inch. 

Eggs  —  Vary  greatly;  four  in  number;  ground  color,  a  light  drab 
deeply  blotched  with  light  brown;  measure  1.60  by  1.18 
inches. 

Recently,  particular  attention  has  been  given  to  the  turnstone 
found  in  Alaska,  and  it  proves  to  be  a  separate  species  from 
that  inhabiting  the  rest  of  the  continent  of  North  America.  Mr. 
William  Palmer,  after  careful  research  on  this  subject  (the  Avi- 
fauna of  the  Pribilof  Islands),  demonstrates  distinct  differences 
and  identifies  the  Alaskan  bird  as  A.  interpres,  the  eastern 
variety  as  A.  morinella,  the  ruddy  turnstone. 

A.  interpres  —  Larger,  wing  more  than  6  inches;  black  above  pre- 
dominant ;  feet,  vermilion. 

A.  morinella  —  Smaller,  wing  under  6  inches ;  chestnut  above  pre- 
dominant ;  feet,  orange-red. 

Habitat.  A.  interpres  —  Breeds  in  Greenland  and  from  Point 
Barrow,  Alaska,  to  the  Yukon  Delta  and  on  St.  Lawrence  Island 
in  Bering  Sea.  Unrecorded  from  the  mainland  of  North 
America  on  the  Atlantic  Coast,  and  on  the  western  south  of  the 
Aleutians.  In  the  eastern  hemisphere  breeds  in  Iceland,  the 
Orkneys,  islands  in  the  Baltic,  and  the  coasts  of  Scandinavia, 
northern  Russia,  Nova  Zembla,  and  Siberia  south  to  Japan,  and 
the  Kuril  Islands,  and  has  been  recorded  from  Spitzbergen  and 
Franz  Josef  Land.  In  winter  spreads  south  along  the  entire 
coasts  of  Europe  and  Asia  to  South  Africa,  the  Indian  Ocean, 
Australia,  New  Zealand,  Oceanica,  and  most  of  the  islands  in 
the  Atlantic,  Pacific,  and  Indian  oceans.  It  is  given  as  a  resi- 
dent, and  has  been  thought  to  breed,  on  the  Azores,  Canary,  and 
Balearic  islands,  islands  in  the  Red  Sea,  near  Madagascar, 
Portugal,  and  Hawaii. 

A.  morinella  —  Breeds  on  the  shores  of  the  Arctic  Ocean  from 
the  Mackenzie  River,  east  probably  to  Cumberland,  and  south 
possibly  to  Hudson  Bay.  Winters  from  the  Bermudas,  West 
Indies,  Florida,  possibly  North  Carolina,  Louisiana,  Texas,  and 
Lower  California,  south  to  Patagonia,  Chili,  and  the  Falkland 
and  Galapagos  islands ;  has  been  recorded  in  Venezuela  early 


484  The  Heater-fowl  Family 

in  July,  and  from  Jamaica,  Louisiana,  and  Texas  throughout  the 
year.  In  the  migrations  chiefly  along  the  coast,  especially  the 
Atlantic,  but  occurs  throughout  the  interior  of  the  United  States, 
except,  possibly,  the  Great  Basin. 

The  turnstone  is  cosmopolitan  and  well  known 
in  nearly  all  parts  of  the  world.  It  is  common  on 
the  coast  of  North  America,  and  is  found  in  the 
interior  on  the  Great  Lakes  and  larger  bodies  of 
water.  It  is  seen  in  small  flocks  early  in  August 
on  the  flats,  following  the  tide  out  with  the  sand- 
pipers and  plover,  or  in  the  marshes,  often  on  the 
gravelly  beaches  and  where  the  shore  is  rough 
and  rocky.  Here  they  follow  the  water's  edge, 
looking  for  their  food  of  insects  and  little  worms 
along  the  lines  of  seaweed  cast  up  by  the  tide, 
often  turning  over  small  stones  and  picking  in 
the  sand  underneath ;  active  and  restless  all  the 
time,  apparently  not  watching  the  observer,  then 
suddenly  running  a  short  distance  and  taking 
wing,  uttering  a  grating  whistle  as  they  speed 
over  the  surface  of  the  water  to  a  safer  feeding- 
ground  just  beyond.  In  the  few  places  where 
they  can  tarry  unmolested,  the  birds  become  as 
gentle  as  the  smaller  sandpipers,  and  it  is  a  pleas- 
ing sight  to  see  the  turnstone  in  its  bright  calico 
markings,  one  of  the  ornaments  of  our  northern 
beaches.  At  the  Magdalen  Islands  the  boys 
often  catch  them  with  horse-hair  snares,  as  they 
gather  about  the  heaps  of  kelp.  Along  the  Atlan- 


Shore-bird  Shooting  485 

tic  Coast  the  turnstone  is  well  known  as  one  of 
the  smaller  varieties  of  big  birds  that  "  make  up  " 
the  bag,  and  in  many  localities  the  name  chicken 
is  applied  to  this  species.  They  come  readily  to 
decoys,  and  often  the  harsh,  twittering  note  is  the 
first  evidence  of  their  presence,  and  the  gunner 
turns  in  time  to  see  a  bird  quartering  off  to  one 
side,  just  out  of  reach.  The  flight  is  graceful  and 
fast ;  when  suddenly  alarmed  by  the  blind  a  quick 
turn  often  makes  the  mark  a  hard  one.  Toward 
the  end  of  September  the  young  of  the  year 
appear  and  remain  about  our  shores  until  late  in 
the  month.  They  lack  the  bright  coloring  of  the 
adult  bird,  but  at  a  short  distance  the  general 
effect  is  the  same.  Turnstone  are  most  often 
seen  in  small  flocks  and  have  no  hesitation  in 
associating  with  any  of  the  numerous  variety  of 
shore-birds,  big  or  little.  In  April  the  familiar 
note  tells  of  their  arrival  on  our  southern  shores, 
and  we  see  them  frequenting  the  same  routes 
they  left  the  summer  before,  stopping  awhile 
before  passing  on  to  the  final  destination  in  the 
remote  Arctic  regions.  These  are  reached  in 
June.  The  nest  is  placed  on  the  ground,  some- 
times sheltered  by  a  low-growing  shrub.  In  the 
breeding  season  the  male  gives  its  alarm  note  if 
the  nest  is  approached,  and  then  both  birds  fly 
to  high  ground,  perching  on  rocks,  if  such  are 
present,  and  watch  silently,  not  moving  while 


486  The  Water-fowl  Family 

any  one  is  near.  The  nests  are  hollows  in  the 
stony  beaches  near  high-water  mark.  The  eggs 
are  three  to  four  in  number  and  vary  as  much 
in  coloring  as  do  the  birds  themselves.  The 
young  are  fledged  in  July,  and  we  see  the  first 
flocks  of  old  birds  late  in  this  month.  The  turn- 
stone  is  occasionally  taken,  during  its  breeding 
season,  far  to  the  south,  in  temperate  climes. 
That  they  ever  actually  breed  in  these  localities 
is  doubtful.  On  islands  in  the  South  Pacific,  it 
is  said,  the  natives  keep  these  birds  in  cages  as 
pets,  and  also  match  them  against  each  other  as 
fighting  cocks. 

Mr.  Palmer  describes  the  turnstone  on  the 
Pribilof  Islands  as  arriving  about  the  middle  of 
July,  and  by  the  end  of  the  month  abounding 
everywhere,  reaching  the  island  by  the  north- 
eastern shore,  flying  southward  until  the  killing- 
ground  is  reached;  here  they  swarm  about  the 
seal  carcasses  and  feed  on  the  maggots  that  infest 
them,  becoming  so  fat  they  are  run  down  and 
captured  by  the  young  Aleuts.  Soon  after  the 
first  of  August  the  birds  begin  to  take  their 
departure  from  the  Pribilofs.  About  six  in  the 
evening  a  small  flock  of  forty  or  more  rise  into 
the  air  from  the  village  pond  with  loud,  shrill 
cries,  sweeping  about  the  head  of  the  lagoon  and 
gathering  fresh  recruits,  make  a  straight  course 
high  over  the  village  and  out  to  sea.  From  the 


Shore-bird  Shooting 


487 


Pribilofs  they  pass  to  the  Aleutian  Islands,  and 
hereafter  we  know  little  of  the  migration. 

In  distinction  from  the  turnstone  inhabiting  the 
Old  World  and  Alaska,  the  American  species  has 
been  named  the  ruddy  turnstone,  on  account  of 
its  brighter  coloring. 


BLACK    TURNSTONE 
{Arenaria  melanocephala) 

Adult  male  and  female  in  breeding  plumage —  Head,  neck,  breast,  and 
upper  parts,  dusky  with  a  faint  reflection  of  green  ;  a  spot  in  front 
and  behind  the  eye  with  streaks  on  the  forehead  and  the  ear- 
coverts,  white ;  wing,  marked  by  a  white  bar ;  primaries,  brown 
on  outer  webs,  white  on  inner,  with  white  shafts  ;  lower  part  of  back 
and  rump,  white  ;  upper  tail-coverts,  black ;  lateral  ones,  white  ; 
tail,  marked  with  a  broad,  terminal,  black  band ;  chest,  dusky 
brown,  lighter  than  back,  white  streaks  on  the  breast ;  rest  of  under 
parts,  white  ;  iris,  brown  ;  bill,  black ;  legs  and  feet,  yellowish. 

Winter  plumage  —  Like  the  summer,  but  no  white  on  head  or  neck. 

Young — Similar,  but  upper  parts  and  breast  more  grayish,  and 
feathers  above  edged  with  whitish. 

Measurements —  Length,  9  inches  ;  wing,  6  inches ;  oilmen,  I  inch  ; 
tarsus,  i  inch ;  middle  toe,  .85  inch. 

Eggs  —  Four  in  number ;  ground  color,  drab  profusely  spotted  and 
dotted  with  brown;  vary  greatly  in  size;  measure  1.70  by  1.15 
inches. 

Habitat — Breeds  from  Norton  Sound,  Alaska,  possibly  Point  Bar- 
row and  northeastern  Siberia,  on  the  coast  of  North  America 
to  British  Columbia,  and  probably  on  St.  Lawrence  Island  in 
Bering  Sea.  Winters  in  California  and  Lower  California  south 
to  Santa  Margarita  Island.  Has  been  recorded  from  India. 

A  Pacific  variety,  most  abundant  on  the  northern 
parts  of  the  coast,  not  ranging  much  below  south- 
ern California.  It  is  common  on  the  shores  of 


488  The  Water-fowl  Family 

Bering  Sea  and  Alaska  and  most  of  the  neigh- 
boring islands,  often  occurring  with  the  common 
turnstone.  The  birds  frequent  the  flats  and 
marshes  alongshore,  as  well  as  the  beaches.  They 
are  often  found  some  distance  inland  on  ponds 
and  smaller  bodies  of  water.  The  black  turn- 
stone  breeds  in  the  northern  portions  of  its  range, 
placing  its  nest  on  the  ground  and  laying  four 
eggs  of  an  olive  color,  finely  mottled  with  black, 
closely  resembling  the  surroundings.  Locations 
along  the  coast  near  the  water  are  selected.  The 
young  are  fledged  in  July,  and  early  in  September 
follow  the  old  birds  on  their  migration  south.  In 
habits  this  species  closely  resembles  the  common 
turnstone. 


CHAPTER   XIII 

SHORE-BIRD   SHOOTING  (CONTINUED) 

THE  OYSTER-CATCHERS 

(Hcematopodidce) 

A  DOZEN  species  of  large,  strange-looking  birds, 
with  brightly  colored,  wedge-shaped  bills,  compose 
this  family.  Shy  and  solitary  in  their  habits,  they 
range  over  the  beaches  of  most  of  the  world,  the 
American  species  never  occurring  far  from  the 
seacoast  The  most  peculiar  character  of  these 
birds  is  the  bill,  and  by  this  they  can  be  recog- 
nized at  once.  It  is  about  twice  as  long  as  the 
head,  and  straight,  high,  flattened  on  the  sides  and 
pointed,  thus  resembling  a  wedge,  and  is  bright 
red  or  orange  in  color ;  the  nostrils  are  large  and 
set  in  a  deep  hollow.  The  eyes  are  either  red  or 
yellow,  and  the  legs  heavy  and  covered  with  small 
hexagonal  scales.  The  oyster-catchers  have  no  hind 
toe.  Their  cry  is  loud  and  rather  harsh ;  and  most 
of  them  breed  on  some  slight  elevation  in  the  sand 
of  the  ocean  beaches.  Of  the  four  species  found 
in  North  America,  three  are  confined  to  this  con- 
tinent, only  one  of  them  occurring  on  the  Atlantic 
Coast,  and  one  is  a  straggler  from  Europe. 

489 


490  The  Water-fowl  Family 


EUROPEAN    OYSTER-CATCHER 

(Hcematopus  ostralegus) 

Male  and  female  in  breeding  plumage  —  Head,  neck,  and  upper 
parts,  glossy  black;  greater  wing-coverts,  pure  white;  pri- 
maries, black  with  most  of  inner  webs  white,  the  white  extend- 
ing to  outer  web  on  inner  primaries ;  secondaries,  white  with 
black  tips;  rump,  upper  tail-coverts,  and  basal  half  of  tail, 
white;  rest  of  tail,  black;  spot  below  eye  and  lower  parts 
from  breast,  white;  feathers  at  junction  of  fore  neck  and 
breast,  black  and  white ;  bill,  vermilion ;  feet,  purplish  red ; 
iris,  crimson ;  eyelids,  vermilion. 

Winter  plumage  —  The  same. 

Young — Browner  on  back  than  adult;  feathers  vermiculated  and 
edged  with  sandy  brown;  primaries  with  more  white,  and  a 
band  of  white  on  throat. 

Downy  young — Upper  parts,  sandy  gray,  mottled  with  black  on  the 
head,  and  striped  with  black  on  back,  rump,  and  flanks ;  throat 
and  thighs,  blackish ;  rest  of  lower  parts  and  edge  of  wing, 
white. 

Measurements  —  Length,  16.50  inches;  wing,  10  inches;  tail,  4 
inches ;  culmen,  3.25  inches  ;  tarsus,  2  inches. 

Eggs — -Three  or  four ;  oval ;  buff  spotted  with  dark  brown  and  gray ; 
measure  2.35  by  1.50  inches. 

Habitat  —  Breeds  in  Iceland  and  the  coast  of  western  and  southern 
Europe,  and  in  eastern  Europe  and  western  Asia,  from  the 
Black  Sea,  the  Caucasus,  and  Turkestan,  north  to  the  Arctic 
circle,  on  the  banks  of  large  rivers  and  lakes.  Winters  in 
Iceland,  Great  Britain,  and  the  coasts  of  central  Europe,  south 
to  both  coasts  of  central  Africa,  and  from  the  Caucasus  to 
western  India.  Several  have  been  taken  in  Greenland. 

The  European  oyster-catcher  apparently  much 
excels  our  bird  in  its  ability  to  adapt  itself  to 
circumstances  and  find  a  home  wherever  it  may 
wander.  Sometimes  it  lays  its  eggs  on  the  bare 
rocks  of  a  rugged  shore,  or  in  a  slight  hollow  of 


Shore-bird  Shooting  491 

some  gently  sloping  beach  just  above  high  water. 
One  pair  chooses  an  open  spot  on  the  bright 
turf;  a  second,  some  cranny  among  the  drift  of  a 
river  bank ;  while  a  third  is  contented  to  perform 
the  duties  of  incubation  among  the  prosaic  sur- 
roundings of  a  potato  field.  Sometimes  a  simple 
hollow  suffices  it  as  a  nest ;  often  small  pebbles  or 
bits  of  shell  are  placed  in  this,  and  occasionally  it  is 
lined  carefully  with  dry  grass.  But  wherever  the 
nest  may  be  and  however  made,  it  is  guarded  care- 
fully by  the  birds,  who  fly  screaming  overhead  if 
any  one  comes  near.  In  general  the  habits  of  this 
bird  are  similar  to  those  of  the  American  oyster- 
catcher. 

AMERICAN    OYSTER-CATCHER 

{Hcematopus  palliatus) 

Adult  male  and  female  —  Head  and  neck,  black ;  back,  wings,  and 
tail,  slate-brown ;  rest  of  the  plumage,  including  greater  wing- 
coverts,  upper  tail-coverts,  sides  of  the  rump,  base  of  the  tail, 
and  entire  lower  parts,  white ;  bill,  vermilion ;  eyelids,  ver- 
milion; iris,  bright  yellow;  legs  and  feet,  fleshy  white. 

Young —  Similar  to  adult,  but  upper  tail-coverts  tipped  with  buff; 
bill,  brownish ;  iris,  brown ;  feet,  gray. 

Downy  young —  Upper  parts,  light  fulvous  gray,  finely  mottled  with 
darker ;  lines  behind  eye  and  stripes  on  back,  black ;  lower  parts, 
white. 

Measurements  —  The  different  individuals  vary.  Length,  17  to  21 
inches;  wing,  10.50  inches;  culmen,  3.25  inches;  tarsus,  2.25 
inches ;  middle  toe,  1.25  inches. 

Eggs  —  Three  or  four  in  number ;  cream  color  with  irregular  spots, 
lines  and  markings  of  bistre;  measure  2.25  by  1.65  inches. 

Habitat  —  Ranges  on  the  eastern  coast  of  North  and  South  America, 
from  New  Jersey,  casually  New  Brunswick,  and  given  by  Audubon 


492  The  Heater-fowl  Family 

from  Labrador,  south  to  Patagonia,  and  on  the  western  coast 
from  Mexico  to  Chili,  and  breeds  probably  throughout  its 
range.  Recorded  in  the  West  Indies ;  but  these  records  may 
refer  to  H.  prattii —  a  bird  with  a  slightly  different  bill, 
described  from  the  Bahamas. 

One  of  the  largest  and  showiest  of  our  waders, 
formerly  well  known  along  the  Atlantic  Coast  as 
far  as  Massachusetts,  now,  however,  rarely  strag- 
gling north  of  New  Jersey.  South  of  this  point 
the  oyster-catcher  is  well  known  and  is  found  on 
the  shores  of  the  Southern  states,  the  West  Indies, 
and  Brazil,  —  ranging  on  the  Pacific  from  Mexico 
to  Patagonia.  In  Virginia  and  North  Carolina 
this  bird  is  common,  on  the  high,  barren  stretches 
of  ocean  beach ;  if  approached,  running  rapidly 
just  out  of  reach ;  when  hard  pressed,  rising  and 
uttering  its  note  —  a  sharp  tseep ;  generally  flying 
a  short  distance  and  lighting  in  some  command- 
ing spot,  the  bird  surveys  the  intruder,  then  runs 
along  ahead.  The  gunners  here  seldom  molest 
it,  as  there  is  no  market  for  the  flesh,  and  the 
sea-crow,  for  this  is  the  local  name,  goes  usually 
undisturbed.  In  the  spring  I  have  often  seen 
the  birds  near  Cobb's  Island.  They  were  in 
pairs,  sometimes  four  or  five  together,  and  kept 
for  the  most  part  on  the  dry  sand,  though  occa- 
sionally I  have  noticed  them  close  to  the  water, 
and  in  one  instance  shot  one  over  decoys  on  one 
of  the  marshes  in  the  bay.  The  flight  of  the 
oyster-catcher  is  short  and  near  the  ground,  but 


Shore-bird  Shooting  493 

graceful  and  speedy,  and  its  size  is  better  appre- 
ciated on  the  wing.  This  species  nests  along  a 
greater  part  of  its  range,  choosing  for  this  purpose 
the  highest  portion  of  the  beach,  often  laying  its 
eggs  near  some  dry  drift.  They  are  deposited  in  a 
slight  depression  in  the  sand,  and  in  color  resemble 
exactly  the  surroundings.  In  bright  weather  the 
birds  leave  the  nest  a  large  part  of  the  time,  cover- 
ing it  only  at  night  and  in  stormy  weather.  The 
young  are  hatched  late  in  May  and  follow  the  old 
birds  in  pursuit  of  food.  This  consists  of  various 
small  shellfish  and  sand-bugs.  The  former  opinion 
that  the  bird  destroyed  oysters  is  erroneous.  The 
little  oyster-catchers  bear  a  close  resemblance  to 
the  coloring  of  the  beach  and  readily  hide,  while 
the  parents  exhibit  the  greatest  distress,  flying  close 
by,  uttering  piteous  cries,  and  doing  all  in  their 
power  to  distract  attention  from  the  young.  When 
hard  pressed  the  birds  occasionally  take  to  water, 
where  they  swim  and  dive  with  ease.  Through 
the  summer  often  six  or  more  are  seen  together, 
keeping  to  the  same  resorts  along  the  beach,  very 
rarely  straggling  up  the  bays  and  rivers  a  short 
distance  inland.  By  early  fall  they  have  departed. 

FRAZER'S  OYSTER-CATCHER 

(HamatopMS  frazert) 

Adult  male  and  female  —  Similar  to  the  American  oyster-catcher 
in  general  plumage;  the  bill  is  stouter  and  more  depressed; 
there  is  little  or  no  white  on  the  eyelids ;  the  upper  parts  are 


494  The  Water-fowl  Family 

deeper  brown,  a  broad  zone  of  mottled  black  and  white  feathers 

extending  across  the  breast. 
Measurements  —  Wing,    10   inches;    tail,  4   inches;    tarsus,   2.25 

inches;  bill  from  nostril,  2.35  inches,  from  feathers,  3  inches; 

depth  at  angle,  .50  inch. 
Habitat  —  Ranges  on  both  coasts  of  Lower  California  and  rarely 

north  to  Ventura  County,  California,  and  breeds  throughout  its 

range.     May  prove  synonymous  with  H.  galapagensis,  of  the 

Galapagos  Islands. 

Closely  resembling  the  American  oyster-catcher 
in  appearance,  this  bird  has  exactly  the  same 
habits.  It  frequents  the  shores  of  the  islands  of 
the  coast  of  Lower  California  and  possibly  western 
Mexico.  As  early  as  January  the  bird  mates, 
breeding  on  the  high  beaches. 

It  keeps  close  to  the  water's  edge  and  feeds  on 
small  shellfish.  It  is  shy,  running  rapidly  along 
the  beach  and  giving  a  clear  whistle  as  it  takes 
flight. 

BLACK    OYSTER-CATCHER 

(Hcematopus  bachmant) 

Adult  male  and  female  —  Head  and  neck,  black;  remainder  of  plu- 
mage, sooty,  with  a  brownish  tinge ;  bill,  vermilion ;  iris,  yellow ; 
legs  and  feet,  pale  flesh  color. 

Young —  Similar,  but  browner ;  many  feathers  on  upper  parts  tipped 
with  buff. 

Downy  young —  Upper  parts,  olive-gray,  mottled  with  black ;  spot  on 
crown  and  flanks,  and  lines  from  nape,  on  back,  to  rump,  black ; 
throat  and  breast,  slate-gray;  centre  of  throat  and  abdomen, 
paler ;  white  spot  in  middle  of  breast. 

Measurements —  Length,  17  inches ;  wing,  9.50  inches  ;  culmen,  2.75 
inches;  tarsus,  1.75  inches;  middle  toe,  1.50  inches. 

Eggs  —  Two  or  three  in  number ;  light  olive-buff,  spotted  with  black- 
ish and  purplish  gray ;  measure  2.20  by  1.50  inches. 


Shore-bird  Shooting 


495 


Habitat — Ranges  from  the  Aleutian  Islands  to  Lower  California. 
Breeds  from  California  north,  and  winters  from  British  Columbia 
south.  Recorded  from  the  Kuril  Islands,  probably  by  mistake. 

From  Alaska,  along  the  Pacific  Coast  to  Lower 
California,  this  bird  ranges,  frequenting  not  so 
much  the  sandy  beaches,  as  is  the  habit  of  other 
oyster-catchers,  but  the  rocky  shores,  feeding  on 
mollusks  and  various  small  shellfish,  among  the 
seaweed.  The  black  oyster-catcher  is  very  noisy, 
and  calls  to  its  companions  with  a  shrill,  sharp  note, 
readily  answering  if  his  cry  is  imitated.  The  bird 
breeds  in  the  Aleutian  Islands  in  May,  depositing 
its  eggs  on  the  beach,  the  color  of  which  so  closely 
resembles  the  surroundings  it  is  difficult  to  find 
them.  In  unfrequented  places  this  species  is  not 
wild,  but  quickly  learns  to  appreciate  danger.  It 
walks  with  a  "  solemn,  stilted  gait,"  bobbing  the 
head  up  and  down  as  it  proceeds. 


CHAPTER   XIV 

SHORE-BIRD   SHOOTING  (CONTINUED} 

THE  JACANAS 

(Jacanida) 

JUST  where  to  place  the  jacanas,  ornithologists 
were  long  in  doubt ;  in  their  habits,  appearance, 
and  long  toes  they  closely  approach  the  rails ; 
but  in  their  internal  anatomy,  their  plover-like 
bills,  spurred  wings,  and  the  fleshy  wattles  on  the 
forehead,  they  resemble  some  of  the  shore-birds, 
to  whose  ranks  they  have  been  finally  joined. 
There  are  about  a  dozen  species  inhabiting  the 
tropics  of  both  hemispheres.  They  possess  long 
and  slender  legs,  long  toes,  and  extremely  long 
claws  that  enable  them  to  run  about  on  the  broad 
leaves  of  the  water-plants  that  grow  in  the  lakes 
of  their  habitat.  The  bill  is  more  sharply  pointed 
than  that  of  a  plover,  but  the  long  and  sharp  spur 
on  the  bend  of  the  wing  and  the  strange  lappet 
on  the  forehead,  together  with  their  extremely 
large,  long  toes,  make  them  easy  to  identify. 
Only  one  species  reaches  our  southern  border,  in 
Texas  and  Florida:  active  and  noisy,  it  moves 
with  perfect  ease  on  the  lily-pads  that  float  on 

496 


Shore-bird  Shooting  497 

the  surface  of  the  water,  and  if  frightened  retires 
to  the  dense  vegetation  where  we  must  leave  it. 

A  remarkable  species  found  in  southeastern 
Asia,  with  a  total  length  of  only  eighteen  inches, 
has  a  tail  that  is  ten  inches  long.  Four  of  the 
tail  feathers  are  much  longer  than  the  others  and 
arched  like  those  of  a  pheasant.  It  builds  a  flat 
nest  of  grass  and  rushes  which  floats  on  the  water, 
attached  to  the  plants  growing  near.  In  this,  and 
the  six  or  seven  olive-brown  eggs  it  lays,  it  cer- 
tainly resembles  a  rail  much  more  than  a  shore- 
bird. 

MEXICAN   JACANA 

(Jacana  spinosd) 

Adult  male  and  female — Head,  neck,  upper  part  of  back,  and  breast, 
black,  with  reflections  of  purple ;  lower  back  and  wings,  purplish 
chestnut ;  primaries  and  secondaries,  pale  yellowish  green,  the 
primaries  bordered  with  blackish  brown;  rump,  upper  tail- 
coverts,  and  tail,  dark  purple;  lower  portion  of  breast  and 
flanks,  maroon  ;  abdomen,  thighs,  and  under  tail-coverts,  brown- 
ish maroon  ;  a  frontal  leaf  of  three  lobes,  bright  orange  in  color, 
covers  the  forehead  from  the  base  of  the  bill ;  bill,  bright  yellow  ; 
a  sharp  spur  on  the  wing  of  orange ;  iris,  brown  ;  feet  and  legs, 
greenish. 

Young — Frontal  leaf,  yellow,  rudimentary;  top  of  head  and  back  of 
neck,  pale  brown ;  a  yellowish  white  stripe  from  base  of  bill  to 
nape ;  a  black  stripe  behind  the  eye,  broadening  on  the  neck 
and  upper  back ;  back  and  wings,  pale  brown;  primaries  and  sec- 
ondaries, yellowish  green  ;  rump  and  upper  tail-coverts,  brown  ; 
tail,  dark;  upper  parts  in  general,  light  brown;  chin,  throat, 
sides,  and  under  parts,  white,  with  a  tinge  of  buff;  bill,  yellow; 
legs  and  feet,  olive. 

Downy  young —  Crown,  back,  and  wings,  orange-tawny ;  nape  and 
hind  neck,  dusky;  lines  on  back,  from  eye  to  hind  neck,  on 
2  K 


498  The  Water-fowl  Family 

flanks,  edge  of  wings,  and  thighs,  black ;  broad  band  of  ochra- 

ceous  buff  on  sides  of  back ;  forehead,  sides  of  head,  last  joint  of 

wing,  and  lower  parts,  white. 
Measurements  —  Length,  9  inches;  wing,  5.50  inches;   tail,  2.25 

inches;  bill,  1.30  inches;  tarsus,  2.10  inches;  middle  toe,  2.05 

inches. 
Eggs  —  Four  in  number ;  ground  color,  drab,  marbled  and  streaked 

over  their  entire  surface  with  wavy  lines;  measure  1.20  by  I 

inches. 
Habitat  —  Ranges  from  the  United  States  of  Columbia  and  Panama, 

north  to  the  Rio  Grande  River,  southern  Florida,  Cuba,  and 

Hayti,  and  breeds  throughout  its  range,  though  not  known  to 

do  so  in  Florida. 


The  jacana  inhabits  the  tropics,  straggling  to 
the  valley  of  the  lower  Rio  Grande.  The  marshes 
along  the  coasts  and  bodies  of  water  a  short  dis- 
tance inland  are  their  resorts,  and  they  are  found 
in  Mexico,  Central  America,  and  the  neighboring 
islands  to  northern  South  America.  This  bird 
is  very  common  on  the  West  Gulf  Coast,  and  in 
May,  1901,  I  found  it  abundant  near  Tampico, 
frequenting  most  of  the  marshes,  but  more  par- 
ticularly where  lily-pads  and  weeds  covered  the 
surface  of  the  water  and  high  grass  about  the 
edges  afforded  a  hiding-place.  There  were  always 
several  pair  about  these  marsh  ponds,  chattering 
and  scolding,  darting  out  of  the  long  grass  on  to 
the  broad,  flat  leaves,  feeding  a  few  seconds,  then 
running  back,  noisy  all  the  time,  restless,  flitting 
their  wings,  paying  but  little  attention  to  our 
presence  if  we  remained  quiet.  Should  another 


Shore-bird  Shooting  499 

bird  appear,  the  two  often  ran  together,  uttering 
harsh,  clattering  notes.  Their  appearance  both 
on  the  ground  and  flying  was  unique,  the  pale 
green  of  the  wings  and  purplish  chestnut  of  the 
body  with  bright  orange  helmet  and  wing  spurs 
being  very  conspicuous.  The  difference  between 
the  immature  and  adult  plumage  is  striking,  and 
the  young  bird  would  scarce  be  recognized  of  the 
same  variety  except  for  the  characteristic  habits 
and  bad  manners.  Repeatedly  I  noticed  the  im- 
mature birds  in  pairs,  and  it  seemed  probable  that 
the  full  dress  is  not  assumed  until  after  the  second 
year.  The  jacana  constructs  a  nest  of  grass, 
woven  in  such  a  way  that  it  floats,  if  occasion 
requires.  The  eggs  are  peculiarly  streaked  with 
dark,  irregular  lines,  well  suited  to  an  odd  bird. 


THE  WATER-FOWL  OF  THE  PACIFIC 
COAST 

T.  S.  VAN  DYKE 


THE  WATER-FOWL  OF  THE  PACIFIC  COAST 


THE  DUCKS 

FOR  the  wandering  birds  that  love  the  water, 
the  Pacific  Coast  seems  more  of  a  natural  home 
than  the  Atlantic  or  even  the  basins  of  the  Mis- 
sissippi and  Missouri.  On  the  latter  the  water- 
fowl are  compelled  to  move  south  in  winter,  but 
on  the  Pacific  Coast  there  is  little  reason  but 
taste  for  travel  in  moving  much  south  of  Oregon. 
Yet  they  seem  to  love  the  drier  and  warmer  sec- 
tions, and  it  is  but  a  few  years  since  tens  of 
thousands  bred  in  California ;  while  even  to-day 
the  mallard  and  teal  and  some  others  breed  in 
southern  California  and  even  far  down  in  Lower 
California  (Mexico).  It  seems  but  a  question  of 
disturbance,  for  it  is  but  a  few  years  since  the 
mallard  made  his  summer  home  in  ponds  almost 
small  enough  to  shoot  across,  nesting  in  the  tall 
fringe  of  tule  and  typha  that  lined  the  shores  for 
many  yards  into  the  water.  Here  the  family  spent 
the  long  summer  days,  floating  calmly  about  on  the 
smooth  surface  or  muddling  in  little  grassy  coves, 

5°3 


504  The  Water-fowl  Family 

but  hardly  ever  seen  on  the  wing  unless  alarmed. 
Then  the  whole  party  sometimes  drifted  into  the 
girdle  of  green,  and  often  the  old  ones  rose  and 
circled  away  on  high  while  the  little  ones  dived 
beneath  the  surface  to  rise  again  out  of  sight  in 
the  solid  mass  of  reeds.  When  the  American 
came  to  California  he  found  all  the  ponds,  sloughs, 
and  lagoons  dotted  with  ducks  in  midsummer,  for 
the  old  Spanish  settlers  never  troubled  them. 
And  the  numbers  were  so  increased  in  autumn 
by  the  great  host  that  streamed  out  of  the  far 
North  and  knew  still  less  of  the  wicked  ways  of 
man  that,  when  the  first  rains  of  winter  set  the 
hills  and  slopes  aglow  with  green,  a  good  duck- 
pond  in  its  setting,  now  tinged  with  russet  and 
gold,  was  a  sight  worth  the  seeing.  Here  they 
spent  the  bright  days  of  winter,  some,  like  the 
widgeon,  basking  on  the  carpet  of  green  that  fast 
robed  the  land  to  the  very  edge  of  the  water; 
others,  like  the  teal,  drifting  along  the  shores  or 
dozing  in  little  sunny  bays ;  others,  like  the 
canvas-back  and  the  red-head,  more  in  love  with 
the  middle  of  the  pond,  but  all  forming  the  most 
perfect  picture  of  repose.  In  all  nature  I  have 
found  nothing  so  restful  to  the  eye  as  such 
a  mirror  reflecting  heaven's  warmest  blue  be- 
side the  image  of  the  snow  that  gleamed  among 
the  dark  pines  on  the  mountain  behind,  with 
the  meadow-lark  warbling  the  first  notes  of 


Tbe  Water-fowl  of  the  Pacific  Coast    505 

spring  from  the  willows  and  cottonwoods  that 
overhung  the  water,  with  a  thousand  red  wings, 
golden  wings,  and  golden  throats,  gleaming  on 
the  blackbirds  that  thronged  the  fringe  of  reeds, 
while  the  thrush  poured  forth  his  soul  from  the 
crimson  and  green  of  the  heteromeles  on  the 
drier  ground,  with  the  mocking-bird  joining  in 
from  the  verdant  head  of  the  massive  live-oak. 

However  abundant  ducks  might  be  there  was 
rarely  any  flight  by  day  such  as  once  was  common 
on  the  prairie,  nothing  equal  to  the  old-time 
morning  flight  about  the  lakes  and  sloughs  of  the 
prairie  and  the  adjacent  river-bottoms,  and  nothing 
approaching  that  tumultuous  whirl  of  whizzing 
life,  now  among  the  things  that  were,  the  evening 
flight.  In  some  places  a  few  ducks  would  fly 
about  for  a  short  time  in  the  morning  or  evening, 
or  both,  and  in  other  places  all  would  move  to 
some  other  pond  or  to  the  salt  water.  At  night 
many  flew  out  to  feed  on  the  grass  or  grain-fields, 
but  a  sun-bath  from  morning  till  night  was  the 
rule  with  the  majority.  Nor  was  there  very  much 
difference  in  many  places  even  when  the  sky 
ceased  its  long  smile  and  the  storm-wind,  bringing 
the  needful  rain,  was  strong  enough  to  make  a 
duck  rejoice  in  the  spreading  of  wing.  In  many 
places  the  movement  was  still  not  enough  to 
make  what  in  the  prairie  states  would  once  have 
been  called  "a  good  flight,"  and  too  often  the 


506  The  Water-fowl  Family 

only  way  to  get  good  wing  shooting  was  to  have 
some  one  go  about  with  a  boat  or  horse  and  keep 
the  birds  in  motion  where  the  pond  was  so  large 
that  the  game  would  not  leave  it.  If  the  ponds 
were  small,  then  it  was  necessary  to  drive  them 
from  one  to  another  and  hide  along  the  line  of 
flight.  Where  they  were  mere  beads  upon  a 
slough  this  often  made  very  fine  shooting,  but 
where  they  were  solitary  ponds  the  birds  simply 
went  to  another  and  resumed  dozing  in  the  sun 
until  roused  again.  The  consequence  was  that 
good  flight  shooting  was  not  to  be  had  every- 
where or  every  day,  even  where  ducks  were  most 
plenty.  And  nowhere  have  I  seen  or  heard  of 
such  pass  shooting  as  I  used  to  enjoy  in  Illinois, 
Minnesota,  and  Wisconsin  in  the  sixties.  In 
places  there  is  fine  flight  shooting  for  a  time,  and 
there  has  been  night  shooting  surpassing  that  of 
any  other  section,  but  in  proportion  to  the  num- 
ber of  ducks  I  believe  that  what  we  used  to 
call  first-class  duck-shooting  has  been  rarer  on 
this  coast  than  on  the  great  flyways  of  the  Mis- 
sissippi watershed.  The  best  of  that  shooting  used 
to  be  without  any  decoys,  which  were  used  very 
little  except  in  spring.  But  here  in  many  places 
decoys  seem  necessary  in  autumn,  though  there 
are  other  spots  where  they  are  not.  On  the  great 
prairies  it  was  a  certainty  that  thousands  of  the 
great  travelling  host  from  above  would  alight  in 


The  Water-fowl  of  the  Pacific  Coast    507 

any  of  the  larger  ponds  to  spend  at  least  one 
night,  and  that  in  doing  so  they  would  be  joined 
by  as  large  a  horde  that  had  been  out  feeding  in 
the  vast  corn-fields  of  the  prairie.  To  be  almost 
mobbed  with  such  a  combination  tearing  the  air 
around  your  head,  while  you  stood  struggling 
with  a  muzzle-loader,  was  a  common  experience  of 
the  last  hour  before  dark ;  while  a  highly  respec- 
table attempt  to  duplicate  it  in  getting  out  of  bed 
in  the  morning  was  almost  a  certainty.  Decoys 
would  have  been  an  absurdity  at  such  times. 
And  the  thousand  lines  of  hissing  wings  that 
came  plunging  out  of  the  sky,  or  swinging  up  out 
of  the  horizon,  curled,  twisted,  and  darted  in  so 
many  directions  at  such  tremendous  speed  that 
one  was  treated  to  every  combination  of  shots  of 
the  hardest  kind. 

I  cannot  find  that  any  such  flight  shooting  has 
ever  been  seen  on  this  coast,  and  all  that  I  have 
seen  in  twenty-seven  years  has  been  tame  by  con- 
trast. Yet  the  difference  is  not  all  loss.  On  the 
prairie  there  was  little  to  cheer  the  soul  of  the 
tyro.  Without  the  slightest  difficulty  he  could 
burn  up  all  his  ammunition  only  to  see  an  occa- 
sional tail  feather  part  its  hold,  with  its  owner 
flying  all  the  faster  for  being  relieved  of  it,  and 
possibly  see  a  wounded  duck  plunge  into  the 
shades  of  night  where  even  his  dog  could  never 
find  it.  Even  the  expert  had  to  struggle  with 


508  The  Water-fowl  Family 

ravenous  mud,  with  water  continually  threaten- 
ing the  gunwales  of  his  longest  boots  before  he 
could  get  much  fun,  while  the  poor  novice  who 
had  to  venture  a  "  pot-shot "  from  the  shore  was 
too  often  compelled  to  look  with  fond  regrets  on 
a  bunch  of  dead  ducks  he  dared  not  try  to  reach 
with  the  longest  pole. 

But  on  the  greater  part  of  this  coast  the  ponds 
have  firmer  bottoms  and  sides,  so  much  so  that  a 
horse  can  often  be  ridden  and  even  a  wagon  driven 
through.  In  almost  all  cases  it  is  a  simple  matter 
to  drive  a  wagon  within  a  few  yards  of  the  water 
and  often  quite  easy  to  touch  it  dry-shod.  The 
consequence  is  that  you  can  often  hunt  in  a 
wagon  or  on  a  horse,  locate  the  game  from  a  dis- 
tance, and  then  swing  round  upon  it  as  you  wish. 
This  will  nearly  always  insure  a  rising  shot  which 
is  generally  hard  enough  for  the  tyro.  But  better 
shooting  may  be  had  by  scaring  but  the  ducks 
without  shooting,  and  then  hiding  in  the  reeds  or 
in  many  of  the  little  gullies  or  cuts  in  the  hard 
ground  around  their  edges.  If  not  shot  at,  and 
often  if  they  are,  they  are  quite  apt  to  come  back, 
singly,  in  pairs,  and  flocks  for  some  time,  wheeling 
and  whizzing  about  at  great  speed  before  decid- 
ing to  alight  and  thus  presenting  every  style  of 
difficult  shot.  In  many  places  the  water  of 
flood  years  has  gashed  the  plain  with  a  long, 
winding  gully  six  to  ten  feet  deep,  leaving  a  small 


The  Water-fowl  of  the  Pacific  Coast    509 

stream  at  the  bottom  which  widens  into  ponds  of 
every  kind.  Before  the  rapid  settlement  of  the 
land  these  little  ponds  were  beaded  with  ducks, 
even  the  lordly  canvas-back  and  dainty  sprigtail 
being  content  within  their  small  compass.  Along 
the  edge  of  the  cut  one  could  still  drive  for  miles 
on  hard,  smooth  ground  and  sometimes  keep  a 
steady  stream  of  ducks  rising,  shooting  only  from 
the  wagon  and  stopping  only  when  something 
fell.  Such  days  are  gone.  The  best  of  the 
larger  ponds  are  now  rented  by  clubs,  while  most 
of  the  long  sloughs  are  on  ranches  of  thousands 
of  acres  fenced  and  forbidden.  By  feeding  and 
judgment  in  shooting,  the  clubs  are  really  increas- 
ing the  number  of  ducks,  while  the  stopping  of 
indiscriminate  shooting  on  the  ranches  has  the 
same  effect.  But  one  who  knows  how  to  en- 
joy the  field  and  cares  nothing  for  slaughter  can 
easily  find  the  way  to  shoot  on  almost  any  of 
the  preserved  ground. 

On  some  of  the  lakes  and  sloughs  methods  of 
feeding  have  changed  the  flight  of  the  birds,  while 
on  others  they  have  preserved  their  natural  flight 
so  that  it  is  quite  reliable,  subject  of  course  to  the 
eccentricities  of  the  duck  tribe  which  make  it 
impossible  to  predict  "  a  good  duck  day."  In  most 
cases  decoys  are  relied  on  to  bring  the  flying 
game  within  reach  of  a  blind,  and  not  necessarily 
to  induce  the  bird  to  alight,  so  that  decoy  shoot^ 


510  The  Water-fowl  Family 

ing  is  not  always  the  easy  work  it  once  was 
in  spring  in  the  Middle  West.  In  fact,  the  man 
who  would  wait  for  the  bird  to  alight,  or  even 
wheel  to  return,  as  in  old-fashioned  decoy  shoot- 
ing, is  quite  apt  to  be  left  gazing  at  an  empty  sky. 
The  ducks  are  now  so  suspicious  of  thick  reeds 
and  commanding  points  that  without  decoys  they 
will  too  often  fly  high  out  of  shot.  But  a  liberal 
sprinkling  of  good  decoys  riding  the  water,  which 
in  some  cases  are  left  there  the  whole  season, 
brings  many  a  one  on  a  lower  course. 

The  only  approach  to  the  old-time  shooting 
from  a  wagon  is  now  along  the  irrigating  canals, 
and  even  here  it  is  generally  necessary  to  get 
permission.  The  duck  has  also  kept  fair  pace 
with  improvements  in  guns  and  powders,  so  that 
he  too  must  be  consulted.  Although  in  many 
cases,  such  as  on  the  Galloway  Canal,  you  can 
drive  on  the  bank  and  see  the  game  from  a  dis- 
tance that  will  enable  you  to  make  a  detour  under 
cover  of  the  bank,  the  ducks  can  see  you  quite 
as  far.  And  they  are  fully  aware  of  the  mean- 
ing of  a  wagon  on  that  same  bank.  They 
know  that  no  innocent  farmer  is  travelling  on 
that  line.  So  that  about  the  time  you  stop  the 
wagon  they  may  take  wing  a  long  way  off.  Or 
they  may  toy  with  your  intentions  by  letting  you 
start  on  that  detour  and  then  paddling  away  as 
soon  as  you  are  out  of  sight.  By  the  time  you 


The  Water-fowl  of  tbe  Pacific  Coast    5 1 1 

make  your  detour,  sneak  carefully  up  the  bank 
and  raise  your  head,  you  see  little  but  blank  water, 
while  a  roar  of  wings  a  hundred  yards  or  so  on 
one  side  makes  you  wonder  who  it  was  that  said 
the  duck  was  not  a  game-bird. 

All  water-fowl  are  crazy  over  freshly  irrigated 
land,  and  for  the  first  twenty-four  hours  after 
the  water  is  turned  in  they  can  hardly  be  driven 
away  from  some  fields.  In  the  great  valley,  San 
Joaquin,  there  are  tens  of  thousands  of  acres  'of 
alfalfa  and  grain  irrigated  in  winter,  and  outside 
of  the  club  grounds  these  now  afford  the  best 
shooting  in  the  southern  half  of  California.  The 
best  used  to  be  on  the  great  tule  marshes  of  the 
Sacramento  and  the  San  Joaquin  rivers  and  about 
their  entrances  into  San  Francisco  Bay.  Plenty 
of  shooting  and  vast  areas  of  good  ground  yet  re- 
main open  there,  though  the  best  places  are  now 
owned  by  clubs.  But  even  on  irrigated  ground 
the  duck  is  still  wary.  It  appears  quite  accidental, 
yet  there  is  a  marvellous  method  in  the  way  he 
selects  open  fields  with  no  brush  or  banks  behind 
which  you  can  sneak  on  him.  So  that  for  the 
best  shooting  it  will  generally  pay  to  make  a  pit 
on  the  line  of  flight.  In  all  such  cases  the  water- 
fowl generally  have  some  big  lake  or  pond  where 
they  spend  much  of  the  time  flying  from  that  to 
the  feeding-ground,  such  as  Buena  Vista  Lake  at 
the  head  of  the  San  Joaquin  Valley,  from  which 


512  The  Water-fowl  Family 

myriads  of  geese  and  ducks  now  stream  to  the 
feeding-grounds,  making  fine  shooting  at  certain 
points  on  their  flight  each  way.  In  all  these 
cases  decoys  may  be  used  to  advantage  on  water, 
for  many  will  dip  even  to  a  smaller  sheet  if  they 
see  company  there.  But  there  will  be  no  such 
settling  to  decoys,  at  least  in  the  earlier  half  of 
the  season,  as  there  was  in  what  we  used  to  call 
shooting  over  decoys  in  the  Mississippi  Valley. 
And  it  is  doubtful  if  it  will  be  the  same,  even 
when  mating-time  is  near. 

This  coast  has  some  ducks  rarely  seen  east  of 
the  Rocky  Mountains,  and  among  these  none 
strikes  the  eye  of  the  stranger  like  a  little  duck 
that  seems  especially  at  home  in  the  South. 

THE    CINNAMON    TEAL 

Robed  in  lustrous  cinnamon  with  gray  wings 
heavily  barred  with  sky-blue,  and  bill  of  shining 
jet,  he  glistens  in  the  bright  sun  as  if  born  to  shed 
his  rays.  Yet  he  is  the  most  artless  of  his  race, 
and  acts  as  if  he  would  really  like  to  be  your 
friend  if  it  were  only  safe.  About  the  size  of  the 
green-winged  teal  but  a  little  trimmer  in  build,  he 
is  a  swift  flyer,  and  may  bother  you  to  send  the 
shot  far  enough  ahead  to  connect  with  his  whiz- 
zing wing.  Of  all  the  duck  family  he  is  the  most 
beloved  by  those  who  do  not  value  game  solely 
by  the  size  of  the  dent  it  makes  on  falling. 


The  Water-fowl  of  tbe  Pacific  Coast    5 1 3 

Though  this  teal  will  breed  in  southern  Cali- 
fornia if  undisturbed,  it  loves  a  higher  latitude  for 
nesting  and  a  far  lower  one  for  wintering.  Far 
down  in  Lower  California  and  even  in  Central 
America  it  lives,  appearing  in  considerable  num- 
bers in  California  only  in  spring,  where  it  seems 
to  enjoy  the  bright  beams  of  the  mounting  sun 
more  than  any  other  bird.  While  other  ducks 
are  paddling,  diving,  feeding,  preening  their  feath- 
ers, or  looking  uneasy  at  the  distant  approach 
of  man,  this  little  duck  drifts  about  in  sublime 
peace,  often  remaining  when  the  other  ducks 
with  thumping  wings  have  climbed  the  sunshine 
out  of  danger.  In  the  little  coves,  where  the  ripen- 
ing alfileria  fringes  the  bank  and  the  golden  flow- 
ers of  the  mustard  are  pictured  in  the  quiet  water, 
he  floats  as  gently  as  if  life  were  all  a  picnic ;  and 
rarely  do  you  catch  him  feeding,  diving,  or  even 
flying  unless  disturbed.  When  he  migrates  he 
goes  like  the  king-rail  that  glides  about  the  reeds 
with  such  silent  step,  and  whose  ringing  call  is  so 
delusive.  He  vanishes  as  silently  as  he  came, 
though  he  remains  till  long  after  the  sprigtail  has 
set  his  forked  rudder  for  the  northern  sky,  and  the 
burnished  green  of  the  mallard  shines  no  more  on 
the  bright  face  of  the  lagoon.  But  hardly  ever 
do  you  see  him  dot  the  upper  sky,  come  hissing 
down  the  northern  breeze  in  autumn,  or  rise  upon 
you  over  the  horizon  like  a  charge  of  grape-shot 

2  I, 


5 14  The  Water-fowl  Family 

from  the  under- world.  He  is  all  gentility,  the 
ideal  of  contentment,  a  picture  of  repose.  He  is 
too  pretty  to  shoot,  though  when  other  ducks  are 
scarce  he  may  have  to  fill  the  breach,  as  none 
surpass  him  on  the  table. 

THE    WOOD-DUCK 

Years  ago,  when  I  used  to  hunt  on  the  tributa- 
ries of  the  Mississippi,  the  beautiful  wood-duck 
was  not  only  the  first  of  the  ducks  from  the  north 
that  gave  much  shooting,  but  it  bred  on  the 
grounds  in  numbers  sufficient  to  give  fair  sport 
before  the  wings  of  the  great  northern  host  began 
to  sing  as  they  rode  downward  on  the  shades  of 
night.  And  even  before  that,  around  every  bend 
in  the  slough,  one  could  get  a  good  shot  from  the 
canoe  at  ducks  still  young  but  strong  of  wing, 
while  almost  every  log  that  projected  into  the 
water  had  a  flock  or  two  basking  in  the  sun  in  a 
manner  quite  tempting  to  the  tyro. 

Nothing  of  the  sort  seems  to  have  existed  on 
the  Pacific  Coast  to  any  extent,  and  not  at  all  in 
the  southern  part.  The  fulvous  tree-duck,  a  true 
wood-duck,  breeding  in  hollow  trees,  seems  the 
only  representative  of  the  family  here.  It  is  a 
light  fulvous  or  tawny  yellow,  with  larger  spread 
of  wing  than  the  eastern  duck,  but  sadly  short  of 
it  in  color  and  grace,  and  not  abundant  enough  to 
be  a  factor  of  importance  in  any  of  the  shooting. 


The  Water-fowl  of  the  Pacific  Coast    515 

In  the  southern  part  it  is  rare  except  as  solitary 
specimens,  though  I  have  seen  seasons  when  in 
places  they  would  make  five  per  cent  of  the  bag. 
But  it  is  not  an  interesting  bird  like  its  cousin  of 
the  East. 

The  most  universal  duck  on  this  coast  is 

THE    MALLARD 

The  mallard  is  found  everywhere,  from  coast 
to  mountain  top  and  ^rom  Alaska  far  into  Lower 
California,  wherever  there  are  a  few  square  yards 
of  water  out  of  reach  of  the  gun.  And  even 
where  its  thunders  are  most  frequent  he  often 
takes  his  chances  in  dodging,  relying  on  his  supe- 
rior acuteness,  which  is  fast  becoming  a  highly 
respectable  reliance.  His  improvement  in  climb- 
ing skyward  at  the  first  suspicion  of  a  hat  in  the 
reeds,  or  the  first  glimpse  of  a  boat,  is  in  almost 
exact  proportion  to  the  improved  range  of  guns, 
while  the  period  of  his  return  is  in  about  inverse 
ratio  to  the  increasing  speed  of  fire.  And  his 
swift  upward  whirl  is  often  too  much,  even  for 
the  best  repeating  gun,  and  sometimes  even  makes 
one  doubt  the  efficacy  of  a  double  gun.  He  has 
dropped  the  old  habit  of  skimming  the  tops  of 
the  reeds  so  low  that  he  cannot  see  what  is  in 
them  until  too  late.  He  has  also  learned  the 
unprofitable  nature  of  fanning  the  shore-line  with 
his  wings.  He  now  winnows  the  breeze  far  above 


516  The  Water-fowl  Family 

the  middle  of  the  pond,  studies  it  well  from  sev- 
eral points  of  view,  then  arches  his  neck,  bobs  his 
head  once  or  twice,  sets  his  wings  in  a  stiff  curve, 
and  slides  down  an  almost  vertical  incline,  from 
which  he  is  prepared  to  spring  aloft  at  any  sec- 
ond. When  he  reaches  the  water  he  rarely 
troubles  himself  about  the  opinion  of  other  ducks 
that  may  be  there,  but  spends  several  minutes  in 
looking  about  before  unbending  the  vast  dignity 
of  his  suspicion.  Only  after  a  long  season  of 
quiet  does  he  venture  near  the  shore,  and  long  of 
range  must  be  the  gun  that  can  reach  him  from 
the  reeds.  Of  course,  he  falls  into  some  errors 
about  the  range  of  the  latest  nitro  gun,  but  gen- 
erally his  judgment  is  as  good  as  that  of  the 
owner  of  the  gun. 

Not  much  better  is  the  case  when  he  travels  in 
company.  The  big  flock  that  used  to  pass  your 
blind  at  thirty  yards,  sweeping  but  a  few  feet 
above  the  water  with  long,  brilliant  necks  out- 
stretched and  glittering  in  the  sun  like  couched 
lances  in  a  charge  of  cavalry,  now  swings  away 
on  high  where  you  will  be  lucky  if  you  can  stay 
the  climbing  power  of  even  one,  while  the  double 
shot  in  such  a  case  is  almost  a  special  dispensa- 
tion. And  if  they  have  seen  you,  there  is  little 
use  of  fattening  hope  on  thoughts  of  their  return. 
If  they  have  seen  a  few  inches  of  that  gun,  they 
are  likely  to  inspect  several  other  quarters  before 


The  Water-fowl  of  the  Pacific  Coast    5 1 7 

stirring  your  nerves  again.  And  you  need  hardly 
wait  until  dark  to  see  any  more  come  pouring  in. 
There  are  places  where  there  will  be  some  flight 
in  the  evening,  but  in  many  others  silence  broods 
more  deeply  as  the  sky  reddens  in  the  west.  Yet, 
when  the  first  scouts  of  dawn  plant  their  golden 
standards  on  the  peaks  of  granite  in  the  east,  if 
you  are  well  hidden,  you  may  often  find  the  mal- 
lard in  a  hurry  to  go  to  or  from  the  water,  and 
not  quite  so  particular  about  his  line  of  flight. 
Sometimes  he  has  been  out  feeding  on  the  grass 
or  in  the  grain-fields,  and  is  in  haste  to  rest  his 
legs  in  the  cool  water,  while  in  other  places  this 
may  be  the  very  time  when  he  will  scud  away  to 
feed  along  the  shore  inlets,  or  even  go  out  to  sea 
for  a  change. 

In  size,  color,  and  general  habits  the  mallard  of 
this  coast  hardly  differs  from  his  cousin  of  the 
prairies.  Like  all  of  the  most  wary  animals  he 
is  sometimes  caught  napping;  but,  on  the  whole, 
is  now  a  bird  that  commands  the  respect  of  every 
one  who  loves  the  gun,  as  beautiful  as  he  is  shy, 
and  one  of  the  brightest  of  the  great  tribe  of 
the  wild  and  free. 

THE    SPOONBILL 

In  spite  of  its  rich  soil  and  warm  sun  this  coast 
cannot  compare  with  the  prairie  states  in  turning 
out  fat  ducks.  There  is  no  feed  to  equal  wild 


518  The  Water-fowl  Family 

rice  or  the  corn  of  the  great  corn-fields,  and  the 
rich  feed  of  summer  seeds  here  comes  too  late. 
Some  ducks  are  still  good  in  spite  of  lack  of  fat, 
such  as  the  teal  and  mallard,  but  others  that  are 
fine  when  on  good  feed  become  dubious  fare 
when  the  banquet  fails  and  they  have  to  descend 
to  common  food.  Such  is  the  spoonbill  on  the 
greater  part  of  this  coast.  A  good  enough  duck 
elsewhere,  and  good  enough  here  when  he  carries 
fat  enough  to  cook  himself,  he  is  yet  such  a  poor 
skirmisher  for  corporeal  beatitude  that  he  is  gen- 
erally in  disfavor.  In  the  midst  of  ripening  alfi- 
leria,  burr  clover,  and  all  the  luxuriance  of  a 
California  spring,  with  the  light  rippling  in  sil- 
very waves  over  the  ripening  wild  oats  and  grain, 
heading  out  all  around  him,  he  can  keep  poorer 
with  no  apparent  effort  than  anything  else  that 
lives.  Too  lazy  to  hunt  good  feed  in  many  places, 
he  lives  on  muddling  in  dirty  ponds  that  little 
improve  his  flavor.  Hence  he  is  in  disfavor  when 
in  his  natural  state,  and  it  is  considered  a  fine 
joke  when  some  one  in  haste  shoots  a  spoonbill 
by  mistake  for  a  mallard.  On  the  feed  of  club 
grounds  he  can  fatten  into  a  good  duck,  and  such 
will  probably  be  his  future.  While  stupid  com- 
pared with  the  mallard  and  some  of  the  larger 
ducks,  he  is  still  smart  enough  to  be  interesting. 
He  has  even  less  of  a  regular  flight  than  the 
other  ducks,  and  is  little  on  the  wing  unless 


The  Water-fowl  of  the  Pacific  Coast    519 

stirred  up.  He  prefers  to  sit  around  in  the  ponds 
and  muddle,  and  often  spends  days  at  a  time  in 
some  little  hole.  But  when  he  does  mount  the  air 
his  black  and  white,  chestnut  and  blue,  with  crim- 
son feet,  long  neck,  and  head  of  burnished  green, 
make  him  often  easy  to  mistake  for  a  mallard. 

THE    GREEN-WINGED    TEAL 

The  blue-winged  teal  of  the  Mississippi  Valley, 
a  flyer  of  wondrous  speed  and,  for  his  size,  the 
most  charming  of  all  eastern  ducks,  seems  lacking 
on  this  coast,  though  some  specimens  may  be 
found  in  the  North.  But  the  common  green- 
wing  is  abundant  and  is  apparently  the  same  as 
in  the  East.  One  who  has  had  them  hiss  through 
the  falling  night  like  a  charge  of  grape-shot, 
just  missing  his  head  to  fade  in  the  gather- 
ing gloom  before  he  can  whip  his  gun  into  posi- 
tion, has  acquired  a  love  for  these  teal  that  no 
change  of  their  habits  can  alter.  Though  he 
travels  in  flocks  and  makes  as  good  time  with 
his  rapid  wing  as  elsewhere,  the  green-wing  is  not 
such  a  factor  in  general  duck-shooting  as  in  the 
old-time  evening  flight  of  the  prairies  when  he 
added  so  much  to  the  uproarious  tumult  that 
jarred  your  steadiest  nerves.  Then  so  many  sprig- 
tails  were  riding  down  the  darkness,  so  many  gad- 
walls  plunging  out  of  the  fading  blue,  so  many 
mallards  thumping  the  twilight,  you  could  hardly 


520  The  Water-fowl  Family 

stop  to  shoot  at  smaller  ducks.  Or  if  you  could, 
there  were  bluebills  by  the  score,  rending  the  air 
with  stiff-set  wing,  widgeon  pouring  in  with  plain- 
tive whistle,  with  wood-ducks  filling  up  the  chinks 
in  what  was  left  of  daylight.  Yet  the  rush  of 
smaller  wings  in  greater  bunches,  the  incessant 
whisking  of  teal  between  you  and  the  bird,  when 
you  raised  it  on  some  larger  duck,  made  those 
thrilling  moments  even  more  lovely. 

Here  the  green-wing  is  more  of  a  substitute  for 
something  better  and,  with  the  cinnamon  teal,  is  at 
times  the  only  duck  on  which  any  shooting  may  be 
had  on  some  grounds.  There  are  many  small  ponds 
and  chains  of  ponds,  sloughs,  etc.,  too  small  for  the 
other  ducks  to  trust  themselves  on.  Or  if  they 
take  the  chances  of  being  too  near  the  shore,  find 
they  have  made  a  mistake  and  leave,  there  is  lit- 
tle use  in  sitting  down  to  nurse  a  hope  of  their 
return.  But  the  teal,  even  when  quite  wild,  does 
not  like  to  be  driven  from  some  favorite  spot. 
Suspicion  is  not  enough  for  him,  and  he  is  quite 
apt  to  return  to  look  for  certainty.  If  you  are 
well  hidden,  the  flock  may  come  whizzing  back 
upon  you  in  two  minutes.  And  even  if  it  steers 
far  up  into  the  sky,  it  does  not  follow  that  it  will 
be  gone  more  than  five  minutes.  And  so  deter- 
mined is  this  little  bird  sometimes  in  the  choice 
of  its  ground  that  even  when  you  are  standing  in 
plain  sight  it  will  rush,  dart,  and  twist  all  around 


The  Water-fowl  of  the  Pacific  Coast    521 

your  head  in  such  a  way  that  only  the  expert  can 
hit  one  and  then,  having  left  the  tyro  pointing  at 
vacancy,  may  alight  within  a  hundred  yards  or 
more  of  him,  as  if  in  supreme  contempt.  And 
sometimes  on  some  of  the  larger  ponds  the  teal 
is  the  only  salvation  of  the  bag,  for  he  will  often 
remain  after  the  canvas-back  and  the  red-head 
have  indorsed  the  opinion  of  the  mallard  and 
the  sprigtail  that  there  is  a  flavor  of  a  new  nitro 
powder  in  the  air. 

THE    "SPRIG"   OR    PINTAIL   DUCK 

Less  brilliant  than  some  of  the  ducks,  the  ele- 
gant arrangement  of  brown,  black,  and  white, 
glossy  with  green  and  violet,  that  robes  the  sprig- 
tail,  his  trim  and  graceful  figure,  large  size  and 
gamy  manners,  make  him  quite  as  attractive  as 
any  of  the  ducks.  He  is  apparently  the  same 
here  as  on  the  Atlantic  side  of  the  country,  a 
bird  always  so  welcome  that  you  feel  no  disap- 
pointment when  what  you  supposed  a  mallard 
shows  the  long  tail  feathers  trailing  against  the 
sky  as  he  comes  within  shot.  But  on  this  coast 
he  has  a  special  charm  as  the  first  duck  that 
arrives  in  any  numbers  from  the  north,  especially 
in  southern  California.  The  duck  is  never  more 
attractive  than  when  he  first  looms  into  the  circle 
of  expectation,  and  the  sprigtail  swinging  one 
hundred  strong  around  some  bold  promontory  on 


522  The  Water-fowl  Family 

the  coast,  now  dotting  the  blue  sky  and  then  the 
blue  sea  as  they  rise  or  fall,  is  one  of  the  sights 
that  stir  the  strongest  fever  in  the  blood  of  him 
who  yearns  for  the  coming  of  autumn.  For  it  is 
long  before  the  silvery  honk  of  the  goose  begins 
to  fall  from  the  sky,  or  ever  the  sand-hill  crane 
rolls  his  trumpet  notes  from  the  blue  vault  above 
him.  You  can  then  shoot  the  sprigtail  in  goodly 
numbers  when  there  is  no  other  duck  flying, 
unless  the  few  that  have  bred  here.  Again  in 
the  spring  you  may  find  him  lingering  around 
some  little  pond  hidden  in  the  timber,  or  in  some 
larger  one  from  which  he  can  waddle  with  ease 
out  upon  the  rich  grass,  for  days  after  the  snowy 
side  of  the  canvas-back  has  ceased  to  shine  on 
the  lagoon  and  days  after  the  glistening  green  of 
the  mallard's  head  has  vanished  in  the  northern 
sky. 

In  the  meantime  the  sprigtail  leads  somewhat 
of  a  humdrum  existence,  associating  with  all 
other  ducks  after  they  come,  sitting  about  on  the 
still  face  of  the  waters,  enjoying  the  winter  sun  as 
much  as  any  tourist  in  the  city  park.  He  does  very 
little  muddling  or  diving,  most  of  his  feeding  being 
at  night  on  grass  or  grain.  But  on  freshly  irrigated 
ground  he  will  do  a  full  day's  work  of  feeding  and 
muddling  as  well  as  the  rest  of  his  friends.  Ex- 
cept during  the  first  days  of  his  arrival  he  makes 
no  shooting  any  different  from  the  rest  of  the 


The  Water-fowl  of  the  Pacific  Coast    523 

large  ducks  with  which  he  is  nearly  always  more 
or  less  mixed.  Yet  there  are  days  when  there  is 
no  pintail  in  sight,  and  other  days  when  half  the 
bag  may  be  made  of  them,  so  that  they  are  never 
reliable.  Yet  scarcely  any  duck  is  more  welcome, 
while  none  surpass  the  sprigtail  in  those  mysteri- 
ous attractions  that  are  all  the  more  attractive 
because  so  mysterious.  If  we  could  say  wherein 
the  charm  of  the  field  lies,  it  is  doubtful  if  the 
charm  would  be  there. 

THE    CANVAS-BACK 

It  is  no  less  difficult  to  say  what  there  is  about 
the  canvas-back  that  so  makes  expectation  throb 
when  his  white  coat  begins  to  glimmer  in  the 
sun.  It  certainly  is  not  its  flavor,  for  it  is  here  a 
very  common  duck,  and  generally  not  as  good  as 
the  teal.  Yet  a  fever  begins  to  consume  your 
soul  as  the  bird  rises  into  the  line  of  sight  that 
grows  ever  more  raging  as  the  bird  approaches 
the  line  of  fire.  Surely  it  is  not  because  of  its 
size,  which  is  less  than  that  of  the  mallard.  Nor 
is  it  because  of  superior  gamy  qualities,  for, 
though  as  wild  as  the  mallard  in  vacating  on  the 
slightest  suspicion,  he  is  far  his  inferior  in  getting 
out  of  the  way  of  the  gun  after  it  begins  to  shine. 
He  knows  little  about  climbing  out  of  the  way  of 
a  tenderfoot's  gun  even  after  it  is  raised,  and  often 
makes  a  failure  in  sheering  off  where  there  is 


524  The  Water-fowl  Family 

plenty  of  time,  of  which  the  mallard  is  quick  to 
avail  himself.  Yet  there  is  little  game  that  causes 
more  satisfaction  than  when  at  the  report  of  the 
first  barrel  a  whirl  of  white  and  gray  goes  over 
with  another  turning  over  before  the  first  has 
reached  the  water.  Decoys  seem  more  necessary 
for  this  duck  than  for  any  other  except  the  red- 
head, so  much  so  that  in  some  places  it  is  idle  to 
try  to  do  much  without  them.  This  makes  less 
variety  of  shots  than  you  can  have  from  other 
ducks  like  the  teal.  And  if  you  find  a  large  pond 
well  filled  with  them  and  scare  them,  the  chances 
are  they  will  all  leave  for  several  hours,  and  give 
you  none  of  the  wild  whirling  lines  of  return  from 
which  you  can  pick  such  a  variety  of  shots  on  other 
ducks,  and  occasionally  make  that  greatest  of  all 
shots,  the  cross  double,  in  which  you  take  two 
birds  going  in  opposite  directions,  one  with  each 
barrel. 

THE    RED-HEAD 

Though  duller  of  hue,  the  red-head  is  so  much 
like  the  canvas-back  in  action  that  the  shooting 
is  about  the  same.  I  have  found  it  much  more 
attractive  on  their  breeding-grounds  around  the 
upper  end  of  Klamath  Lake  in  southern  Oregon, 
just  before  they  begin  to  move  south.  Thousands 
of  acres  of  reeds  and  grass  surround  the  lake, 
threaded  at  the  upper  end  with  sloughs,  inlets, 
and  streams.  Many  of  these  are  great  spring 


The  Water-fowl  of  the  Pacific  Coast    525 

creeks  alive  with  huge  rainbow  trout,  and  most 
all  of  them  are  large  enough  to  allow  the  finest 
canoeing.  Most  all  the  ducks,  as  well  as  the  sand- 
hill crane,  Wilson's  snipe,  and  many  other  snipe, 
breed  in  the  marsh-grass  and  reeds  of  this  section 
and,  when  getting  ready  for  the  southern  move- 
ment, add  rare  variety  to  the  entertainment  of 
him  who  has  been  wise  enough  to  try  the  grand 
fishing  at  Pelican  Bay  or  Williamson's  River. 
Around  the  points  and  over  the  points  the  young 
birds  try  their  wings  morning  and  evening,  while 
at  all  times  of  day  great  numbers  may  be  stirred 
up  by  paddling  up  many  of  the  sloughs  that  lead  in 
all  directions.  Out  of  the  long  grass,  too,  where 
it  is  partly  under  water  you  may  raise  them  in  a 
way  that  will  remind  you  of  the  finest  grouse- 
shooting  of  the  prairie.  Upper  Klamath  Lake  is 
also  a  great  breeding-ground  that  will  repay  a 
visit  in  many  other  ways  as  well  as  in  the  quan- 
tity of  ducks  one  will  see.  Early  in  the  fall  they 
stream  out  of  there,  down  Williamson's  River,  in 
a  way  that  may  remind  you  of  old  days  some- 
where else  when  a  good  shoot  on  flying  ducks 
was  almost  a  certainty.  Oregon  is  full  of  such 
breeding-grounds,  and  one  of  the  finest  features 
of  hunting  water-fowl  on  this  coast  is  that  one 
does  not  have  to  go  into  the  far  North  beyond  all 
else  that  is  attractive  to  see  the  gathering  of  the 
clans  for  the  winter  raid  on  the  sunny  slopes  of 


526  The  Water-fowl  Family 

California.  You  can  stay  in  the  midst  of  the 
grandest  trout  fishing,  deer  and  grouse-hunting, 
and  yet  have  a  fine  duck  shoot  in  August.  Most 
of  the  ducks  breed  still  farther  up  the  coast  and 
even  in  Alaska,  but  these  move  so  early  that  you 
will  find  many  of  them  in  Oregon  mingled  with 
the  birds  that  have  bred  there. 

THE    WIDGEON 

No  one  who  has  ever  heard  that  tender  whistle 
with  which  he  generally  heralds  his  coming,  can 
ever  forget  the  widgeon,  and  he  is  always  welcome 
even  among  larger  ducks.  Amid  the  storm  of 
lead  that  greets  the  rovers  of  the  sky  on  this 
coast  he  holds  his  own  about  as  well  as  the  best, 
and  wherever  there  is  much  shooting  worthy  of 
the  name,  the  white-crowned  beauty  will  be  an 
essential  factor  in  it.  Next  to  the  sprigtail,  he 
is  among  the  early  ducks  of  fall,  and  stays  as  late 
as  any  but  the  cinnamon  teal.  While  the  rest  of 
the  ducks  may  stay  on  the  water  the  whole  day, 
every  widgeon  in  the  pond  may  be  out  on  the 
bank  sitting  in  the  haze  of  gold  and  green  the 
burr  clover  spreads  along  the  sunny  shore.  There 
he  may  sit  day  after  day  among  fine  feed  on 
which  everything  else  is  fattening,  but  you  will 
not  find  him  eating  much  of  it,  except  at  night. 
But  turn  a  head  of  water  from  a  ditch  on  some 
piece  of  ground,  and  he  will  be  there  before  most 


The  Water-fowl  of  the  Pacific  Coast    527 

of  his  companions  discover  it.  But  do  not  imagine 
he  is  any  easy  victim  because  he  sits  in  the  grass. 
He  is  wide  awake  even  there,  though  he  may  make 
an  occasional  mistake  about  the  attainments  of  a 
tenderfoot  who  is  not  too  much  afraid  of  grass 
stains  on  his  pants.  There  is  little  or  no  special 
shooting  on  this  duck,  as  there  sometimes  is  on 
the  sprigtail  or  canvas-back.  Though  like  any  of 
the  ducks  he  may  sometimes  be  found  alone,  he 
is  generally  in  mixed  company  and  is  hunted  in 
about  the  same  manner  as  the  rest  of  the  tribe. 

THE    GADWALL 

Nature  surpasses  all  art  in  the  combination  of 
simple  colors  she  has  made  in  the  gadwall  or  gray 
duck.  Black,  white,  gray,  and  brown,  as  woven 
in  its  gamy  robe,  have  made  beauty  as  perfect 
as  it  could  have  been  made  with  more  brilliant 
colors,  so  that  there  is  hardly  any  feathered  game 
on  which  we  look  with  much  more  satisfaction 
than  on  the  fallen  gadwall.  It  is  the  same  on 
this  coast  as  elsewhere,  and  is  now  so  wild  and 
wary  that  it  is  rarely  in  much  danger  from  any 
but  the  expert.  Even  with  him  its  charming 
addition  to  the  bag  is  too  often  accidental,  for 
it  is  rarely  found  in  sufficient  numbers  to  be 
worthy  of  a  special  hunt,  and  it  is  quite  common 
to  have  a  fair  flight  of  ducks  keep  your  gun  warm 
without  the  presence  of  the  gray  duck.  It  is  less 


528  The  Water-fowl  Family 

distinctive  in  its  manners  and  mode  of  life  than 
many  of  the  others,  so  that  less  reliance  can  be 
placed  on  it.  It  appears  more  often  as  a  surprise 
among  a  more  numerous  company,  and  it  is  often 
a  surprise  in  another  way,  for  if  one  is  not  in  full 
practice,  one  is  quite  apt  to  underrate  the  speed 
of  this  large  duck.  And  the  distance  at  which  he 
keeps,  with  his  heavy  armor  of  feathers,  enables 
him  to  laugh  at  any  old-time  hunting  outfits.  All 
the  larger  ducks  have  learned  so  much  that  it  is 
now  of  little  use  to  expect  much  of  a  bag  with 
anything  but  the  best  of  modern  guns  and  am- 
munition. And  these  do  not  fully  balance  the 
increased  distance  at  which  most  shots  must  be 
made,  so  that  careful  "  leading "  or  shooting  far 
enough  ahead  of  a  crossing  duck  is  becoming  all 
the  time  more  important.  More  care  has  to  be 
taken,  too,  with  blinds,  while  the  decoys  to 
which  ducks  would  readily  pitch  thirty  years 
ago  would  now  drive  half  the  ducks  out  of  a 
pond.  The  shooting  is  thus  becoming  more  of 
a  science,  —  a  game  in  which  only  the  experi- 
enced can  play.  The  tenderfoot  has  had  his 
day.  It  was  a  great  one,  for  never  was  there 
more  easy  work  than  among  the  great  masses 
of  ducks  that  poured  upon  our  sunny  plains 
in  winter.  But  the  granger  with  his  grand- 
father's gun  gave  up  some  years  ago,  and  the 
tenderfoot,  even  with  the  most  modern  equip- 


The  Water-fowl  of  the  Pacific  Coast    529 

ments,  is  little  better  off  until  schooled  by  many 
a  day  of  disappointment. 

OCCASIONAL   DUCKS 

Like  most  parts  of  the  East,  the  Pacific  Coast 
abounds  in  ducks  rarely  found  in  sufficient  num- 
bers to  make  special  shooting  even  where  large 
enough,  but  which  mixed  with  other  ducks  are 
sometimes  worth  shooting.  But  some  ducks  seem 
wholly  wanting  here  or,  if  on  the  coast  at  all,  are 
very  rare  and  remain  most  of  the  time  in  the 
North.  Such  is  the  black  or  dusky  duck,  such 
a  fine  bird  on  the  Atlantic  Coast.  The  golden- 
eye,  a  good  duck  on  certain  kinds  of  feed,  I  have 
never  seen  here  and  cannot  find  any  one  who  has, 
though  it  would  be  strange  if  a  duck  so  widely 
distributed  were  completely  missing  on  this  whole 
coast.  As  ducks  from  the  great  basin  between 
the  Rocky  Mountains  and  the  Sierra  Nevada  go 
down  the  Colorado  each  winter,  and  as  it  is  but 
a  short  flight  across  from  the  Rio  Grande,  and, 
for  a  duck,  no  trip  from  there  to  the  head  waters 
of  many  streams  leading  into  the  Gulf  of  Mexico, 
and  as  most  of  the  ducks  at  the  mouth  of  the 
Colorado  summer  on  the  Pacific  Coast,  returning 
by  way  of  Cape  St.  Lucas,  or  crossing  the  moun- 
tain ranges  of  southern  California,  it  would  be 
strange  if  all  the  inland  ducks  of  the  United 
States  were  not  represented  in  some  way  on  this 

2  M 


53°  The  Water-fowl  Family 

coast.  The  same  may  be  said  of  the  blue-bill 
and  the  blue-winged  teal.  They  ought  to  be 
here,  but  as  far  as  I  can  learn  they  are  not. 

But  about  all  the  rest  of  the  buffle-head  ducks 
besides  the  golden-eye  are  here,  many  of  them 
fair  ducks,  deficient  only  in  size.  There  are 
apparently  several  varieties,  though  most  all  may 
be  only  variations  from  one  or  two,  or  possibly 
hybrids.  There  is  a  great  variation  in  the  wid- 
geon on  this  coast,  much  greater  than  I  know 
of  elsewhere,  and  so  extensive  as  to  puzzle  one 
who  is  not  a  good  naturalist.  Dr.  Coues  says 
there  are  some  fifty  varieties  of  hybrid  ducks,  and 
that  some  of  them  are  fertile.  Whatever  the 
reason,  there  are  some  ducks  here  that  I  cannot 
exactly  name,  and  much  better  naturalists  are 
puzzled  about  some  of  them. 

But  there  is  no  ground  for  mistake  about  the 
little  ruddy  duck.  It  is  but  a  short  time  since 
he  was  despised  by  all  as  too  small  and  too  tame 
and,  by  many,  associated  with  the  fish-ducks. 
Even  to-day  he  does  not  count  as  a  duck  in  the 
records  of  some  of  the  clubs.  Yet  if  you  can  find 
him  flying  over  some  strip  of  land  from  one  pond 
to  another,  he  will  drive  at  you  like  a  base-ball 
from  the  hand  of  the  pitcher.  You  will  then  find 
your  hands  quite  full  to  hold  the  gun  far  enough 
ahead,  as  with  wings  hazy  with  speed  and  making 
little  or  no  effort  to  avoid  you  one  cleaves  the 


The  Water-fowl  of  the  Pacific  Coast    531 

strongest  breeze  as  if  it  were  play.  And  when 
one  comes  directly  at  you,  or  but  a  few  points  off 
the  direct  course,  the  way  he  can  be  behind  you 
before  you  can  pull  the  trigger  is  one  of  the 
funny  experiences  of  duck-shooting. 

All  the  mergansers  or  sawbills,  fish-ducks, 
sheldrakes,  divers,  dippers,  etc.,  seem  fully  repre- 
sented here,  with  some  varieties  I  never  saw  else- 
where. So  of  the  scoters  or  surf  ducks,  which, 
in  places  like  the  head  of  the  Gulf  of  California, 
may  be  seen  by  the  acre  in  winter.  They  all 
brighten  the  landscape,  but  I  have  not  yet  found 
any  of  the  tribe  worth  cooking  and  none  that 
would  be  attractive  for  one  who  loves  shooting 
that  demands  high  skill. 

On  the  whole,  what  we  lose  in  the  black  duck 
and  some  others,  and  in  the  evening  and  morn- 
ing flights  of  old  days  on  the  prairie,  is  more  than 
compensated  for  on  this  coast  by  the  length  of 
the  season  and  the  greater  number  of  bright, 
warm  days  on  which  we  can  hunt  without  dis- 
comfort, by  the  absence  of  howling  winds  and 
freezing  waters,  with  less  voracious  mud  but 
firmer  shores  and  quick  transition  from  one  to 
the  other  instead  of  long,  slow  wading. 


532  The  Water-fowl  Family 


II 

THE  GEESE 

No  one  who  once  hunted  the  wild  goose  ever 
again  used  the  expression  "  tame  as  a  goose."  If 
there  is  any  bird  for  which  the  hunter  has  an 
unbounded  respect,  it  is  the  goose,  for  in  pro- 
portion to  its  numbers  he  can  generally  bag 
less  than  of  almost  any  other  bird  except  the 
whooping  crane  and  the  sand-hill  crane.  And 
few  things  so  amaze  even  the  expert  on  other 
birds  as  to  lie  hidden  on  some  fine  flyway  with 
an  average  of  a  hundred  geese  a  minute  passing 
for  two  or  three  hours,  and  see  every  one  that 
rises  over  the  horizon  headed  right  for  his  gun 
sheer  off  just  enough  to  make  it  hopeless  about 
the  instant  he  is  ready  to  pull  the  trigger.  He 
changes  his  opinion  about  the  goose  being  tame, 
clumsy,  or  slow,  and  concludes  he  is  quite  worthy 
of  his  best  efforts. 

Both  by  nature  and  art  this  coast  seems  spe- 
cially made  for  the  goose.  With  endless  breeding- 
grounds  in  the  far  North,  and  in  the  South  vast 
sweeps  of  plain  and  slope  carpeted  soon  after  the 
first  good  rains  with  burr-clover  and  alfileria  that 
make  the  richest  of  feed,  with  ponds  and  lagoons 
shimmering  in  the  bright  sun  of  winter  in  which 


The  Water-fowl  of  tbe  Pacific  Coast    533 

he  could  lounge  away  the  middle  of  the  day,  his 
home  was  quite  ideal.  And  when  thousands  of 
acres  of  grain  began  to  shine  upon  the  plain  it 
only  meant  for  many  a  year  more  feed  and  more 
geese.  Hence  the  goose  was  found  here,  espe- 
cially in  California,  in  numbers  quite  incredible 
even  to  those  who  saw  geese  in  Minnesota  and 
Illinois  forty  years  ago.  As  late  as  1875  the 
plains  and  slopes  about  Los  Angeles  were  dotted 
as  far  as  I  could  see,  not  with  geese,  but  with 
flocks  of  them.  It  was  the  same  down  through 
the  handsome  plains  of  Orange  County  and  down  j 
the  coast  table-lands  through  Santa  Margarita  and  " 
far  into  Lower  California.  In  the  San  Joaquin 
Valley  they  covered  thousands  of  acres  of  huge 
lakes  like  Tulare,  while  the  sloughs  and  ponds 
in  the  sinks  of  the  different  streams  shook  be- 
neath myriads  of  wings.  Where  the  grain-fields 
covered  tens  of  thousands  of  acres,  as  in  the 
Sacramento  Valley  and  Lower  San  Joaquin,  bands 
of  armed  horsemen  were  regularly  employed  to 
scare  them  off  the  grain  by  riding  about  and 
shooting  at  them,  until  "goose  cavalry"  became 
almost  as  much  a  part  of  a  huge  grain  ranch  as 
the  threshing-machine. 

THE    CANADA    GOOSE 

Chief  among  them  all  was  the  Canada  goose 
or  "  honker,"  robed  in  gray  and  dusky  hues  with 


534  The  Water-fowl  Family 

the  white  collar  of  his  tribe,  and  apparently  the 
same  as  the  goose  of  the  Atlantic  states  or  the 
prairie.  Out  of  the  far  northern  sky  he  drifted 
upon  us  in  long,  wedge-shaped  masses,  crescents, 
and  converging  lines,  with  the  mellow  "  honk," 
so  penetrating  yet  so  sweet,  falling  from  almost 
every  quarter  of  the  warm  sky  by  day  and  at 
night  so  thrillingly  near  it  almost  made  you 
clutch  the  gun  in  sleep.  The  sun  rose  upon 
him  standing  in  groups  where  the  golden  violets 
were  starring  the  greensward,  waddling  about 
where  the  little  baby-blue  eyes  were  peering 
sweetly  out  of  the  springing  wild  oats,  or  feed- 
ing where  the  delicate  crimson  of  the  purslane 
tempered  the  brilliant  green  of  the  malva.  Here 
comrades  from  the  distant  ponds  where  they  had 
spent  the  night  were  joining  him,  with  stiff-set 
wings  lowering  them  down  long  inclines  to  the 
tune  of  innumerable  throats,  and  there  some  that 
had  fed  early  were  rising  with  obstreperous 
wing  to  go  back  to  the  lake  for  the  morning. 
And  what  a  sight  that  lake  often  was  about 
the  middle  of  the  morning !  Even  on  such  small 
ponds  as  the  laguna  back  of  the  ranch  house  at 
Santa  Margarita,  covering  scarcely  eighty  acres,  it 
was  a  sight  that  took  me  there  many  a  day,  though 
I  had  so  much  game  all  the  time  I  cared  nothing 
for  shooting  at  any  special  kind.  Between  nine 
and  ten  in  the  morning  the  geese  began  to  swing 


The  Water-fowl  of  the  Pacific  Coast    535 

into  sight  over  the  verdant  table-lands  and  plains, 
with  many  a  silvery  "  honk,"  rolling  in  from  every 
quarter  of  the  horizon.  High  in  air  they  floated 
with  ease,  quite  wondrous  for  bodies  so  heavy, 
and  still  more  charming  was  the  grace  with  which 
they  drifted  down  a  thousand  feet  or  more  to  the 
water.  There  was  none  of  the  rushing  and  hiss- 
ing of  wings  with  which  ducks  descend  from  on 
high,  but  the  whole  movement  was  one  of  vast 
dignity  well  worthy  of  the  grand  scale  on  which 
it  was  performed,  and  of  the  background  of  land 
and  sky  that  alone  made  the  fairest  of  pictures. 
Sometimes  a  dozen  flocks  would  be  coming  in 
at  once,  but  all  seemed  conscious  of  doing 
some  very  solemn  act,  for,  from  the  time  each 
flock  decided  to  settle  to  the  water,  every  ringing 
throat  was  hushed  and  every  wing  changed  to 
slower  stroke,  with  all  stiff-set  at  times.  Some 
flocks  came  nearly  over  the  edge  of  the  pond 
before  lowering,  while  others  began  as  far  back  as 
a  mile  or  more ;  but  in  all  respects  the  action  of 
geese  alighting  in  water  at  this  time  of  day  is 
totally  different  from  their  alighting  on  the  ground, 
and  often  as  different  from  their  settling  into  the 
water  at  night  to  roost. 

Here  came  a  flock  in  a  long,  spiral  line,  starting 
almost  over  the  centre  of  the  pond  and  curling 
down  like  a  winding  staircase,  with  every  wing 
motionless  as  the  throats  that  but  a  moment  ago 


536  The  Water-fowl  Family 

were  so  melodious  in  the  sky;  there,  another 
band  a  hundred  strong  in  a  long  line  end  fore- 
most and  winding  like  a  snake  out  of  the  blue, 
every  wing  so  still  it  seemed  as  if  the  motion 
must  be  due  to  the  constant  changing  of  the 
reverse  curves,  yet  with  the  whole  lowering 
slowly,  certainly,  and  silently  toward  the  centre 
of  the  pond.  Others  were  in  the  wedge-shaped 
masses  or  converging  lines  in  which  they  thread 
the  upper  sky  on  long  flights,  but  the  same  rule 
prevailed  in  all,  general  silence  and  a  slow  drifting 
downward  to  the  water  as  gently  as  a  snowflake, 
often  skimming  along  its  surface  for  several  yards, 
with  every  wing  outstretched  before  lowering  the 
black  feet,  raising  the  black  head,  and  throwing 
back  the  big,  gray  wings  for  the  final  splash. 

Yet  with  all  this  abundance  that  covered  acres 
of  water  almost  solid  with  geese,  in  an  hour  or 
two  it  was  no  easy  matter  to  get  one,  even  long 
before  the  tenderfoot  with  his  cheap  gun,  the 
market  shooter  with  his  barrels  of  ammunition, 
or  big-bag  swine  without  the  excuse  of  the 
market  shooter,  had  made  them  far  wilder.  A 
shot  with  the  gun  from  anywhere  along  the  edge 
of  the  pond  was  next  to  impossible,  and  it  was 
scarcely  any  better  when  they  flew  out,  for  a 
goose  can  climb  high  in  air  quite  rapidly  for  so 
large  a  bird,  and  he  knew  enough  to  do  it.  Any 
kind  of  a  blind  in  the  water  at  once  aroused  their 


The  Water-fowl  of  the  Pacific  Coast    537 

suspicions,  and  they  came  in  so  high  that  even  a 
floating  battery  would  have  been  seen  by  most  of 
them.  By  having  a  few  small  floats  and  sticks 
out  in  the  water,  at  distances  already  tested  with 
the  rifle,  I  had  some  fine  shooting  from  a  patch  of 
brush  on  one  bank ;  but  at  every  shot  the  whole 
pond  shook  with  a  heavy  roar  of  wings,  and  I  had 
to  wait  for  a  new  lot,  which  would  alight,  probably, 
in  a  different  place.  As  the  shooting  was  rarely 
under  three  hundred  yards,  and  the  aim  had  to  be 
taken  at  a  single  goose,  there  was  no  certainty 
about  it,  even  with  globe-sights.  But  it  made 
elegant  rifle  shooting,  and  there  is  no  way  in 
which  such  fine  fun  may  be  had  with  the  goose 
This  could  then  be  done  in  any  of  the  larger 
ponds,  and  at  almost  any  time  of  day  one  could 
get  plenty  of  shots  at  geese  out  on  the  plains,  — 
though  you  had  no  way  of  fixing  the  distance, 
which  kept  ever  changing. 

Though  I  have  known  the  goose  forty  years, 
and  seen  him  in  the  wildest  places,  I  have  never 
seen  the  time  when  one  on  foot  could  approach 
within  shot-gun  range  except  under  some  kind  of 
cover.  Once  in  a  long  while  a  flock  seems  stupid, 
so  that  some  may  be  killed  with  a  long  shot,  but 
the  rule  is  quite  the  other  way.  And  even  a 
blind  from  which  to  shoot  along  one  of  their  lines 
of  flight  must  be  something  natural  if  it  shows 
above  ground.  And  a  cut  or  gully  is  better  even 


The  Water-fowl  Family 

than  a  bush,  of  which  they  soon  become  shy  when 
there  is  much  shooting  out  of  them.  Nor  have  I 
ever  seen  the  time  when  it  was  safe  to  show  much 
of  your  hat,  while  a  few  inches  of  shining  gun 
moved  a  little  so  as  to  have  it  ready,  were  always 
quite  certain  to  make  geese  sheer  off  just  a  little 
too  much.  Equally  fatal  was  too  much  craning 
of  your  neck  to  see  if  they  were  coming,  and  too 
much  wiggling  about  to  get  in  just  the  right  posi- 
tion for  the  supreme  moment.  I  always  found 
the  best  results  from  keeping  perfectly  still  until 
the  heavy  wiff,  wiff,  wiff  of  wings  was  just  over 
me,  and  then  depend  upon  quickness  in  springing 
into  position  to  shoot. 

In  most  places  a  natural  blind  and  without  de- 
coys will  no  longer  do,  and  one  must  dig  a  pit  in 
the  ground  and  have  plenty  of  decoys,  though  this 
is  tame  beside  the  other  way.  Like  any  shooting 
that  becomes  too  easy  one  soon  tires  of  it,  but  it 
is  now  the  only  sure  way  to  get  a  goose.  Such 
methods  as  shooting  from  a  wagon  with  horses  in 
full  run  are  no  longer  possible,  for  the  goose  will 
not  allow  a  wagon  to  come  near  enough  for  the 
final  dash.  But  for  warming  up  the  inner  thrill 
department  it  had  no  equal.  It  needed  only  a 
light  wagon  with  a  pair  of  lively  mustangs  used 
to  the  badger-holes  of  the  plain,  with  a  fearless 
driver  and  a  man  with  the  gun  that  could  stay  in 
the  wagon  and  shoot  at  the  same  time.  The 


The  Water-fowl  of  the  Pacific  Coast    539 

wagon  was  driven  along  on  the  windward  side 
with  no  one  looking  at  geese  or  even  talking 
about  geese.  As  they  were  rarely  shot  at  from  a 
wagon  or  horse,  it  was  easy  to  get  within  seventy 
yards  or  so.  The  team  was  then  suddenly  wheeled 
and  sent  in  wildest  run  directly  at  them.  As  geese 
almost  always  rise  against  the  wind,  the  few  sec- 
onds lost  in  getting  under  way  often  brought  the 
bouncing  wagon  directly  under  a  flapping  and 
honking  huddle  of  black,  white,  and  gray,  thump- 
ing the  air  in  all  directions.  To  land  one  with 
each  barrel  without  landing  on  your  head  behind 
the  wagon  was  the  main  problem,  while  sometimes 
the  next  question  was  whether  the  driver  would 
be  able  to  stop  the  horses  while  anything  was  left 
of  the  wagon. 

THE    WHITE-FRONTED    GOOSE 

Less  imposing  in  size  and  voice  than  the  Can- 
ada goose,  the  white-fronted  goose  is  still  an  im- 
portant element  everywhere  in  goose-shooting  and 
nowhere  more  so  than  on  the  Pacific  Coast.  Here, 
as  in  the  Western  states,  he  is  called  "  brant "  or 
"gray  brant,"  to  distinguish  him  from  the  dark 
brant  of  the  sea-coast.  But  he  is  not  a  brant, 
cares  almost  nothing  for  salt  water,  but  loves  the 
plain  rolling  afar  in  all  the  wavy  lines  of  light  the 
sun  can  weave  on  undulating  green,  especially 
where  some  bright  gem  of  a  lake  bestuds  it§ 


540  The  Water-fowl  Family 

sweeping  breadth.  This  goose  is  found  in  vast 
numbers  in  California  in  winter,  covering  much 
the  same  range  as  the  Canada  goose,  while  his 
u  clank-a-lank "  often  rings  from  the  upper  sky 
even  before  the  deep-toned  "honk"  heralds  the 
approach  of  the  time  for  rain.  Like  the  larger 
goose  he  fails  to  get  as  fat  here  as  he  does  on  the 
corn-fields  of  the  prairie,  though  the  grass  and 
grain-fields  on  which  he  feeds  fatten  cattle  and 
horses  fast  enough.  Yet  he  is  a  good  bird  in 
spite  of  it  and  always  worth  shooting.  But  this 
is  no  easy  matter,  for  he  understands  the  gun 
about  as  well  as  his  larger  cousin,  can  wheel  even 
more  quickly  and  get  under  way  with  less  trouble. 
He  is  a  little  more  apt  to  make  a  mistake  about 
the  range  of  a  gun,  but  you  can  never  rely  on  his 
doing  so.  So  that  about  the  same  general  methods 
must  be  used  as  with  the  larger  goose.  When 
this  goose  alights  on  land  he  acts  somewhat  like 
other  geese,  but  when  he  alights  in  water  his 
style  is  wholly  his  own,  and  few  things  are  more 
amazing  than  the  number  of  people  who  have 
hunted  geese  without  ever  seeing  this  wild  play. 
His  coming  is  told  afar  by  clangorous  notes, 
heard  even  before  the  line  of  dark  dots  rises  against 
the  sky  out  of  the  horizon.  Instead  of  lowering 
toward  the  water  the  geese  only  seem  to  rise 
higher  into  the  vault  of  blue.  On  they  come, 
perhaps  two  hundred  strong,  and  a  thousand  feet 


The  Water-fowl  of  the  Pacific  Coast    541 

or  more  high,  when  they  suddenly  slow  up  for  a 
moment  as  if  to  assure  themselves  that  they  are 
over  the  centre  of  the  pond.  Then  the  edge  of 
the  line  begins  to  break  off,  for  birds  are  suddenly 
tumbling,  whirling,  pitching,  falling  in  all  sorts  of 
lines  and  motions.  Head  first,  tail  first,  it  makes 
no  difference  which  way  they  start,  for  in  a  mo- 
ment they  are  whirling  over  into  some  new  posi- 
tion, on  their  backs  with  tips  of  wings  pointed 
skyward,  then  standing  in  air  with  tail  down  and 
wings  still  skyward  as  if  outstretched  in  prayer, 
then  as  suddenly  darting  off  on  one  side  in  a  long, 
swooping  curve,  every  one  in  a  grand  go-as-you- 
please  somersault  and  the  whole  line  whirling 
to  the  water.  With  wondrous  quickness  the  one 
that  first  comes  within  ten  yards  of  the  water 
rights  himself  and  sets  his  wings,  the  next  wheels 
over  and  falls  into  line  beside  him,  then  another 
and  another  until  perhaps  the  whole  flock  are 
drifting  solemnly  over  the  face  of  the  water  with 
every  ringing  throat  now  hushed.  A  few  rods 
they  sail  almost  touching  the  water,  when  they 
gently  raise  their  heads,  lower  their  tails,  lift  their 
wings,  drop  their  feet,  and  with  a  soft  swish  they 
are  at  rest. 

THE    SNOW    GOOSE 

The  snow  goose,  commonly  called  "  white  brant" 
to  distinguish  it  from  the  white-fronted  goose  or 
"  gray  brant, "  often  seems  more  numerous  on  the 


542  The  Water-Jowl  Family 

Pacific  Coast  than  either  of  the  other  geese.  It 
often  gathers  in  flocks  so  large  that  when  stream- 
ing over  the  wavy  green  of  the  plain  with  some 
huge  mountain  for  a  background  it  almost  matches 
the  line  of  snow  upon  its  crest.  When  standing 
on  the  green  it  often  looks  as  if  acres  were  drifted 
over  with  snow,  while  its  clamorous  pipe  adds  to 
the  music  that  day  and  night  vibrates  between 
earth  and  sky.  Its  flesh  is  dark  and  not  quite  so 
good  as  that  of  the  other  geese,  but  when  fairly  fat 
it  is  still  a  very  good  bird.  It  is  game  to  the  very 
last,  puzzling  even  the  expert  to  bag  in  any  fair 
way,  while  the  tenderfoot  can  easily  see  millions 
in  a  day  without  pocketing  one.  Its  mode  of  life 
and  travel  is  much  the  same  as  that  of  the  other 
geese,  with  which  it  is  often  in  company,  and  the 
ways  of  shooting  it  are  alike. 

The  snow  goose  is  fairest  when  alighting  in 
water,  where  his  manner  is  quite  unique.  He  too 
comes  in  high  in  air  as  if  he  would  cross  the  pond. 
But  as  it  nears  the  edge  the  flock  lengthens  and 
then  rises  in  front  until  it  hangs  in  a  column  at 
an  angle  of  fifty  or  sixty  degrees  with  the  level  of 
the  water.  Then,  with  every  black-tipped  wing 
thrown  forward  and  downward  in  a  rigid  curve, 
and  every  snowy  body  parallel  to  the  inclination 
of  the  column,  each  bird  floats  downward  as  softly 
as  the  streamers  of  fire  from  a  rocket.  How  bodies 
so  heavy  can  so  hang  in  air  and  preserve  such 


Tbe  Water-fowl  of  the  Pacific  Coast    543 

perfect  rigidity  during  several  minutes  of  descent, 
drifting  perhaps  a  thousand  feet  while  falling  as 
far,  yet  without  the  slightest  break  in  the  ranks  or 
any  breach  of  their  vast  dignity,  is  one  of  the  great 
puzzles  of  nature.  Time  and  again  in  the  Western 
states  I  have  seen  all  the  geese  alight  in  water, 
but  only  in  California  have  I  seen  all  three  at  once, 
not  in  hundreds  but  by  thousands,  all  descend- 
ing into  a  circle  of  a  few  hundred  acres.  Such 
was  a  common  sight  in  winter  before  the  rapid  set- 
tlement of  the  southern  plains  and  slopes,  and 
whether  viewed  from  the  water's  edge  or  from 
some  hill  half  a  mile  away  was  a  sight  equally 
wild  and  wonderful. 

OCCASIONAL    GEESE 

Mingled  with  the  larger  geese  are  often  some 
small  ones,  but  rarely  in  any  quantity  and  generally 
mere  occasional  specimens.  But  one  of  them,  the 
smaller  Canada  goose  or  "little  honker,"  is  some- 
times found  in  bunches  of  some  size.  This  is  not 
much  more  than  half  the  size  of  the  large  goose, 
though  apparently  of  the  same  color  and  markings, 
and  is  probably  Hutchins'  goose.  Yet  it  varies 
enough  in  size  to  indicate  two  varieties. 

That  there  are  two  varieties  of  the  snow  goose 
and  probably  three  here  is  quite  certain.  They 
are  much  smaller  than  the  regular  snow  goose,  one 
of  them  looking  more  like  a  duck.  The  latter  is 


544  The  Water-fowl  Family 

so  rare  it  may  be  an  abnormal  specimen.  Neither 
of  these  is  common,  and  one  might  see  geese  all 
winter  without  seeing  one  of  these  kinds. 

The  same  may  be  said  of  the  white-fronted  goose. 
I  have  seen  some  of  them  little  over  half  size,  but 
they  are  so  rare  that  one  might  hunt  all  winter 
without  suspecting  the  existence  of  one. 

THE    SALT-WATER    GOOSE    OR    BLACK    BRANT 

All  the  geese  so  far  mentioned  are  lovers  of  the 
plain  and  its  fresh-water  ponds.  They  are  grass 
and  grain  eaters  and  love  the  water  mainly  as  a 
place  of  rest.  Hence  they  have  little  to  do  with 
the  salt  water,  though  in  travelling  they  often  swing 
out  to  sea.  But  there  is  one  of  the  family  that 
loves  the  sounding  brine  so  well  he  will  have 
almost  nothing  to  do  with  the  shore.  Even  on 
the  .beach  itself  he  will  not  set  his  chary  foot  if  it 
is  dry,  and  rarely  even  when  it  is  still  wet  from  the 
receding  tide.  This  is  the  black  brant  (bernicula 
nigricans),  —  not  the  brant  of  the  Atlantic  Coast, 
which  is  of  much  the  same  general  coloring.  The 
latter  is  not  found  on  this  coast,  while  bernicula 
nigricans  is  almost  wholly  wanting  on  the  Atlantic. 
It  is  the  most  gamy  of  all  our  water-fowl  and 
generally  the  finest  flavored,  the  slight  marine 
flavor  being  like  the  oyster  instead  of  fishy.  This 
brant  seems  well  aware  of  the  esteem  in  which  he 
is  held  and  is  very  shy  in  his  southern  visits  to 


The  Water-fowl  of  the  Pacific  Coast    545 

the  land  of  the  gun.  Breeding  far  in  the  North  in 
great  numbers,  he  spends  most  of  the  winter  along 
the  upper  coast,  visiting  California  only  at  particu- 
lar places.  Tomales  Bay,  near  San  Francisco,  and 
one  or  two  points  above  are  stopping-places,  but 
I  can  find  no  record  of  his  entering  San  Francisco 
Bay,  though  thronged  by  all  other  water-fowl. 
From  there  he  skips  all  the  small  bays,  inlets, 
and  estuaries  until  he  reaches  False  Bay,  a  small 
bay  three  miles  above  San  Diego  Bay.  In  San 
Diego  Bay  he  made  his  principal  winter  home,  but 
was  found  again  at  San  Quentin,  nearly  two  hun- 
dred miles  south,  after  skipping  all  between.  Then 
after  passing  another  long  space  he  appears  at 
Magdalena  Bay  in  Lower  California  (Mexico), 
below  which  I  can  find  no  trace  of  him. 

Why  this  avoidance  of  scores  of  places  appar- 
ently as  good  as  those  at  which  he  stops  ?  And 
why  is  he  not  seen  there  even  occasionally? 
Why  does  he  not  stop  even  for  an  hour  to  rest  his 
wing  weary  with  long  wandering  ?  Yet  he  will  not 
stop,  even  in  the  night  when  he  does  his  travelling. 
And  year  after  year  passes  without  even  his 
voice  being  heard  on  bays  as  large  as  False  Bay 
and  even  more  free  from  the  hunter,  or  on  inlets 
and  sloughs  by  the  score  where  the  tide  brings 
all  the  food  he  can  want  and  large  enough  to  be 
safe  for  the  wary  Canada  goose.  Yet  this  little 
wanderer  disdains  them  all,  despises  the  woof  of 


2  N 


546  The  Water-fowl  Family 

green  and  gold  threaded  with  crimson  and  blue 
the  rains  are  weaving  over  the  sunny  land  to  the 
joy  of  his  cousins,  and  delights  only  in  the  tum- 
bling wave  where  the  beds  of  kelp  have  tempered 
its  roughness.  He  will  not  even  fly  over  a  point 
of  land  if  he  can  go  around  it  without  too  much 
detour,  while  a  few  hundred  yards  of  dry  ground 
seem  an  absolute  bar  to  his  passage. 

What  there  is  about  San  Diego  Bay  that 
pleases  this  dainty  child  of  the  North  I  never 
could  divine,  but  the  best  shooting  on  the  finest  of 
American  water-fowl  could  be  had  every  day 
when  I  first  went  there.  The  shooting  from  the 
shore  was  especially  fine  because  the  sand-spit 
that  forms  the  bay  widens  out  into  the  two 
bodies  of  land  forming  Coronado  Beach.  These 
were  almost  divided  by  Spanish  Bight,  which  ran 
almost  to  the  ocean,  leaving  a  small  strip  of  sand 
a  few  yards  wide.  This  was  the  only  bit  of  land 
about  this  bay  over  which  the  birds  would  fly, 
and  over  this  they  streamed  in  countless  thou- 
sands at  every  turning  of  the  tide,  following  the 
bight  to  the  bay,  thus  saving  several  miles  of 
detour  by  the  mouth  of  the  harbor. 

It  seems  but  a  few  years  since  San  Diego  Bay 
in  winter  was  a  sight  for  the  gods.  Almost  un- 
known to  the  hunter,  it  was  alive  with  water-fowl 
from  the  time  the  first  fleece  of  the  storm-cloud 
flecked  the  blue  of  the  summer  sky  till  the  nest- 


The  Water-fowl  of  tbe  Pacific  Coast    547 

ing  call  of  the  quail  rang  from  the  sumac  on 
Coronado  Beach.  From  the  long  wharf  you 
could  see  the  divers  catch  fish  in  the  clear 
water  beneath,  while  canvas-backs  and  mallards 
merely  swam  out  of  your  way.  Snowy  pelicans 
fishing  in  revolving  chains  cut  the  water  and  rose 
in  air,  little  terns  dived  from  on  high  in  all  direc- 
tions, while  gulls  of  every  kind  drifted  about  your 
head  or  sat  lazily  on  the  piles  to  inspect  you. 
But  it  was  not  the  shag  or  merganser  that 
floated  everywhere  on  the  untroubled  waters,  or 
the  frigate-bird  so  softly  sailing  over  the  blue 
mirror  that  then  knew  nothing  of  sewers,  that 
attracted  your  attention.  The  eye  was  quickly 
riveted  on  acres  of  black  dotted  with  white  that 
lay  far  out  upon  the  water  in  strict  exclusiveness, 
and  from  which  came  a  muffled  "  wah — ook  "  like 
the  distant  babel  of  frogs.  No  sign  did  these 
dark  dots  give  of  any  communion  with  the  rest 
of  the  feathered  tribes,  and  they  especially  dis- 
dained all  those  silly  enough  to  allow  man  to  look 
at  them. 

Out  in  the  ocean  thousands  more  were  riding 
the  lazy  swell  of  the  kelp,  but  all  as  quiet  as  those 
in  the  bay.  Not  a  wing  was  raised  on  either 
water  unless  you  were  weak  enough  to  think  you 
could  shoot  one  from  a  boat.  Then,  long  before 
you  were  within  reach  with  the  best  gun,  they 
rose  with  the  quickness  of  ducks  and  spun  away 


548  The  Water-fowl  Family 

like  arrows  of  jet  feathered  with  light.  About 
the  size  of  the  snow  goose,  they  were  far  quicker 
and  more  graceful,  their  flight  unlike  that  of  any 
other  goose,  their  stroke  of  wing  almost  as  rapid  as 
that  of  the  mallard.  But  their  flight  was  farther 
than  that  of  any  duck,  their  alighting  more 
cautious,  only  far  out  upon  the  water  and  never 
upon  the  shore  or  near  it. 

Peace  broods  over  even  the  largest  bands  while 
the  tide  is  flowing.  But  almost  from  the  moment 
it  begins  to  ebb,  excitement  ripples  through 
the  dark  ranks.  Far  down  the  shimmering  face 
of  the  bay  long,  dark  strings  begin  to  rise  out  of 
the  sheets  of  black,  while  lines  of  black  dots  loom 
on  the  horizon  of  the  great,  peaceful  sea.  Yet  all 
this  implies  nothing  for  you  unless  you  well  know 
their  slippery  ways,  for  even  from  an  early  day  no 
bird  knew  better  the  swinish  nature  of  man,  and 
no  water-fowl  has  kept  as  rapid  pace  with  his  im- 
provements in  rooting  up  all  that  is  fair  in  nature's 
garden.  Hence  as  early  as  1875  it  was  quite 
impossible  to  get  a  shot  at  the  black  brant  from 
a  boat,  quite  as  much  so  to  get  a  shot  from  the 
shore  unless  well  concealed,  and  very  difficult 
even  then  without  decoys  to  lure  them  near 
enough  to  the  shore.  And  anything  like  the 
wabbling  duck  decoys  of  that  day  would  be  seen 
through  at  once  by  the  keen  eyes  that  sparkled 
in  the  black  heads.  As  it  was  useless  to  expect 


The  Water-fowl  of  the  Pacific  Coast    549 

any  of  the  birds  to  fly  over  the  land,  this  blind  had 
to  be  near  the  water,  where  anything  conspicuous 
would  be  suspicious.  A  box  sunk  in  the  mud 
with  a  very  light  fringe  of  seaweed  was  the  only 
sure  thing,  and  even  from  this  it  was  unsafe  to 
show  a  corner  of  your  hat  or  an  inch  too  much  of 
gun.  Even  this  did  not  last  long,  and  by  1883  a 
floating  battery  out  in  the  water  was  about  the 
only  thing  that  could  deceive  them,  as  they  do  not 
fly  very  high.  And  by  1890  most  of  them  had 
ceased  to  trust  their  judgment  about  the  safety 
even  of  open  water,  and  forsook  San  Diego  Bay 
for  the  more  quiet  waters  of  Mexico. 

Yet  it  seems  but  yesterday  that  the  dark  lines 
of  birds  rose  over  the  narrow  sand-spit  that  sepa- 
rated Spanish  Bight  from  the  ocean,  sending  a 
strange  thrill  even  through  nerves  that  had  gazed 
unmoved  on  the  mightiest  hordes  of  other  water- 
fowl the  North  could  send  down  before  the  days 
of  the  breech-loader.  And  soon  a  dark  haze 
began  to  appear  on  each  side  of  the  dark  dots  of 
which  the  line  was  composed,  changing  quickly 
into  the  quivering  of  jet-black  wings  mingled 
with  flashes  of  light  from  white  collars  around 
swarthy  throats.  Yet  hardly  did  we  dare  look  at 
them,  but  lay  crouching  low  in  the  box,  waiting 
for  the  hiss  of  sailing  wings  to  tell  us  they  were 
nearing  the  decoys.  Yet  rarely  would  they  do  so 
at  first,  but  on  they  swept  in  ranks  sometimes  two 


550  The  Water-fowl  Family 

hundred  strong,  three  hundred  yards  or  more 
beyond  the  decoys,  making  a  grand  display  of 
snowy  underwear,  in  contrast  with  their  jetty 
robes,  as  they  passed.  But  vainly  we  looked  for 
them  to  turn  ;  a  suspicious  "  waa — ook  "  carne  from 
a  few  throats,  and  on  went  the  line  in  tremulous 
black  and  white  until  it  faded  in  the  glimmer  on 
the  face  of  the  water  far  down  the  bay. 

But  that  was  nothing,  for  scores  and  even  hun- 
dreds of  such  flocks  were  sure  to  follow  them  in 
the  next  two  hours,  and  not  long  did  we  have  to 
wait  after  the  turn  of  the  tide  before  another  line 
of  dark  dots  was  strung  along  the  western  sky. 
And  soon  there  was  a  soft  ssssss,  sss,  of  sailing 
feathers,  but  just  a  little  too  far  to  justify  raising 
a  head  or  moving  a  gun.  But  the  silence  among 
the  black  throats  showed  that  they  had  taken  no 
alarm,  and  it  was  better  to  give  them  a  chance  to 
swing,  for  they  seldom  alight  at  the  first  approach 
to  the  decoys.  Two  hundred  yards  past  they 
sailed  with  occasional  beat  of  wing,  when  the 
line  turned  and  back  they  came  with  every  sail 
set  and  the  air  singing  beneath  them  as  they  rode 
down  an  invisible  slope  directly  toward  the  decoys. 
Yet,  again,  they  were  suspicious  and  turned  for 
an  upward  flight,  but  they  had  swung  in  closer  to 
the  shore,  and  quickly  we  turned  the  guns  upon 
them.  Instantly  the  long  sailing  line  was  turned 
into  a  flapping  huddle  of  white  and  black,  with 


The  Water-fowl  of  the  Pacific  Coast    551 

each  white-collared  neck  aimed  upward  and  out- 
ward, mounting  the  resounding  air  at  a  pace  that 
left  us  but  a  moment  to  get  the  gun  into  position. 
And  a  good  gun  it  had  to  be,  for  these  quick 
geese  shed  shot  like  hail  unless  very  strongly 
driven,  and  even  then  they  often  carry  it  far  out 
into  the  open  water,  settling  into  it  in  a  long, 
drifting  flight  that  shows  no  sign  of  death. 

THE  SWAN 

While  the  goose  was  yet  comparatively  easy  of 
approach  and  the  mallard  still  a  child  of  simplicity 
in  California,  the  wild  swan  seemed  to  know  that 
his  size  and  rarity  made  him  a  mark  for  the  great 
white  spoiler,  so  that  he  alighted  only  in  the  larger 
ponds,  kept  well  out  in  the  middle,  and  mounted 
the  breeze  in  hot  haste  when  a  man  came  near 
with  a  gun.  But  with  all  his  shrewdness  he  dis- 
liked to  change  his  course  when  once  under  full 
headway,  so  that  if  another  man  were  concealed 
along  the  line  of  flight  he  was  likely  to  take  for 
another  lake,  the  swan  was  too  apt  to  rely  on 
speed  of  wing  to  get  past  the  danger,  if  discov- 
ered, rather  than  swerve  enough  from  it  in  time. 
This  is  about  the  only  way  one  can  rely  on  getting 
a  swan  with  the  shot-gun,  for  they  are  everywhere 
rare  as  compared  with  other  water-fowl.  A  good, 
long-range  rifle-shot  may  occasionally  get  one, 
but  you  will  find  the  game  sitting  a  long  way  out 


55 2  The  Water-fowl  Family 

in  the  water  and  not  at  all  given  to  allowing  sight- 
ing shots.  He  is,  however,  given  to  nervousness 
that  may  affect  his  wings  about  the  time  you  raise 
the  rifle.  He  is  quite  solitary  in  his  habits,  has 
nothing  to  do  with  geese  or  ducks,  comes  late  and 
goes  north  early,  and  thousands  of  sportsmen  have 
never  even  seen  the  swan. 

With  most  people  who  hunt  water-fowl  it  is  the 
height  of  ambition  to  kill  a  swan  —  the  stupidest 
ambition  one  can  have.  I  recovered  early ;  never 
shot  but  two,  and  may  Heaven  forgive  me  for  that. 
Too  tough  and  dry  to  eat,  there  is  no  excuse  for 
murdering  such  a  rare  and  beautiful  bird  simply 
because  it  is  big.  It  is  worth  a  thousand  times 
more  in  air  than  in  the  bag,  for,  contrary  to  popu- 
lar impression,  it  is  an  elegant  flyer.  Not  one  in 
a  hundred  seeing  it  in  full  career,  even  at  short 
range,  would  suspect  what  it  is.  Its  great  size 
diminishes  in  lines  of  perfect  grace,  the  long  neck 
is  drawn  in  without  any  awkward  curves,  every- 
thing is  in  perfect  proportion ;  and,  cleaving  the 
air  at  a  pace  few  of  the  ducks  can  surpass,  its 
speed  helps  out  the  proportion  while  the  harmony 
of  the  whole  is  well  maintained  by  a  stroke  of  wing 
so  rapid  that  the  stranger  is  apt  to  take  it  for  some 
albino  duck.  While  pure  game  in  all  its  ways,  and 
deemed  by  all  a  legitimate  game-bird,  the  swan 
should  nevertheless  be  placed  upon  the  list  of  harm- 
less and  beautiful  birds  that  no  one  should  kill. 


The  Water-jowl  of  the  Pacific  Coast    553 


THE    SAND-HILL    CRANE 

The  same  man  who  is  crazy  to  shoot  a  swan 
will  probably  curl  his  nose  in  high  disdain  at 
your  intimation  that  the  sand-hill  crane  is  a 
game-bird  of  the  first  class.  He  confounds  him 
with  the  herons,  bitterns,  egrets,  and  other  fish 
eaters,  and  does  not  know  that  he  is  almost 
entirely  graminivorous  like  the  goose,  although, 
in  a  different  way,  he  too  loves  the  water.  When 
on  good  grass  or  grain  the  sand-hill  crane  is 
almost  the  equal  in  flavor  of  the  turkey  and 
under  almost  any  circumstances  is  better  than  a 
poor  duck  of  any  kind.  As  a  mark  that  will  try 
your  utmost  care  to  get  even  within  sure  rifle-shot 
of,  he  is  surpassed  only  by  his  great  white  cousin, 
the  whooping-crane,  and  the  wild  turkey.  The 
whooping-crane  is  not  found  on  this  coast  or  any- 
where west  of  the  Rocky  Mountains,  as  far  as  I 
can  learn.  Every  kind  of  water-fowl  from  the 
great  basin  between  the  Rocky  Mountains  and 
the  Sierra  Nevada  winters  on  the  Colorado  River, 
especially  at  its  mouth.  But  even  there  I  could 
not  find  the  whooping-crane,  though  the  common 
sand-hill  was  in  great  numbers.  And  men  who 
have  run  boats  on  the  lower  river  for  thirty  years 
have  never  seen  the  big  white  sand-hill,  or  whoop- 
ing, crane. 

But  the  common  sand-hill  of  bluish  gray  or 


554  The  Water-fowl  Family 

ashy  blue  is  one  of  the  finest  judges  of  human 
nature,  and  rarely  lapses  into  one  of  those  fits  of 
idiocy  that  sometimes  make  even  the  turkey  fall 
an  easy  victim  to  the  tenderfoot.  Circling  near 
midday  in  the  topmost  blue,  and  sending  down 
at  intervals  a  long,  vibrating  note  almost  as  pene- 
trating and  hard  to  locate  as  the  rippling  music 
that  falls  from  the  upland  plover,  he  seems  to  be- 
long only  to  the  sky.  Equally  hopeless  seems  the 
attempt  to  get  a  shot  when  he  starts  on  his  travels. 
High  in  air  he  still  floats  along,  disdaining  all 
country  where  fences  and  houses  show  elbow- 
room  growing  scarce.  A  true  lover  of  the  wild 
and  free,  he  even  scorns  country  still  wild  enough 
for  the  goose  and,  trusting  to  his  untiring  wing, 
will  go  hungry  for  another  five  hundred  miles  to 
enjoy  the  grand  sweep  of  some  plain  too  big  for 
man  to  mar.  When  the  sand-hill  crane  is  travel- 
ling in  flocks  of  fifty  to  a  hundred  and  fifty  or 
more,  with  flock  after  flock  mingling  its  strange 
call  with  one  just  passing  over,  the  man  who 
thought  it  a  common  heron  is  apt  to  find  a  string 
within  tuned  in  unison  with  that  wild  tremolo. 
His  anxiety  to  secure  one  is  tripled  when  he  sees 
band  after  band  on  the  sunlit  plain,  some  stand- 
ing on  the  flowery  knolls,  others  strolling  across 
the  greener  swales,  with  others  feeding  where  the 
plain  rolls  broad  and  free.  Such  was  a  common 
sight  in  California  in  winter  up  to  a  few  years  ago. 


The  Water-fowl  of  the  Pacific  Coast    555 

Not  merely  thousands  but  hundreds  of  thousands- 
dotted  the  great  plains,  often  looking  in  the  dis- 
tance like  bands  of  sheep. 

But  as  far  back  as  1875  this  wild  rover  of  the 
blue  knew  all  about  guns.  Once  in  a  great  while 
a  flock  might  neglect  to  consider  a  gully  in  the 
plain  or  a  belt  of  reeds  near  some  lake,  so  that 
one  could  sneak  within  rifle-shot.  But  I  never 
yet  succeeded  in  crawling  within  sure  shot-gun 
range,  though  there  is,  of  course,  ground  on  which 
it  may  be  done.  But  even  a  sure  shot  with  the 
rifle  was  rare,  no  matter  how  plenty  the  birds  ; 
and  though  the  plain  might  ring  for  many  a  mile 
with  their  reverberating  notes,  one  shot  was  quite 
sure  to  clear  the  whole  stage  for  a  mile  or  more 
and  send  the  actors  to  rest  in  long,  curling  lines 
far  in  the  dome  of  heaven. 

There  are  certain  lines  on  which  the  cranes 
often  swing  low  along  the  plain  in  making  short 
changes  of  feeding-ground  or  in  going  to  water, 
and  the  surprise  of  the  sportsman  is  rarely  greater 
than  when  he  attempts  a  bag  by  hiding  along  this 
line  in  some  bush  or  gully.  Just  as  that  wild  cry 
rolls  thrillingly  near  and  you  move  the  gun  a 
trifle  to  get  it  ready  or  twist  your  eye  a  bit  to  see 
how  close  they  are,  there  is  a  sudden  sheering  off 
in  the  line,  and  the  bodies  that  seemed  so  large 
that  their  momentum  must  carry  them  within 
shot  are  far  out  of  reach  on  wings  nimble  enough 


556  The  Water-fowl  Family 

to  astonish  you.  If  this  does  not  make  you  feel 
you  are  dealing  with  a  game-bird,  watch  the  num- 
ber of  those  that,  far  away,  are  headed  straight  for 
you  yet  drift  away  to  one  side  or  the  other  long 
before  reaching  your  place  of  hiding.  You  will 
find  the  number  too  great  to  be  accidental,  and  if 
you  watch  from  another  point,  you  will  find  they 
are  doing  little  sheering  after  you  are  gone. 

It  seems  absurd  to  say  that  any  birds  could  see 
the  sheen  of  a  gun  or  a  few  inches  of  hat  and 
recognize  danger  in  them  at  so  great  a  distance. 
Yet  you  will  lose  shot  after  shot  if  you  make  the 
slightest  motion  in  craning  your  neck  or  shifting 
the  gun.  And  you  lose  many  a  one,  even  when 
you  keep  perfectly  still.  The  only  approach  to 
certainty  I  ever  found  was  to  lie  in  some  cut  or 
break  in  the  ground  face  downward  and  with  the 
gun  underneath  completely  covered,  without  try- 
ing to  look  up  or  squint  in  any  way,  lying  there 
in  perfect  patience  till  the  sound  of  wings  over- 
head told  it  was  too  late  for  the  game  to  swing 
aside.  Then  such  a  jump  as  never  was,  and  if  I 
landed  on  my  feet  without  losing  my  grip  on  the 
gun,  there  was  a  chance  for  a  double  shot  into  the 
wildest  medley  of  laboring  wings,  long  shining 
beaks,  and  clamorous  throats. 


The  Water-fowl  of  the  Pacific  Coast    557 
ill 

THE  WADERS  AND  SHORE-BIRDS 

The  great  family  of  birds  that  love  the  wet, 
salt  shore  has  a  wonderful  representation  on  the 
Pacific  Coast,  but  on  account  of  the  abundance 
of  ducks  and  quail  in  midwinter  they  have  not 
been  appreciated,  as  they  long  have  been  on  the 
Atlantic  Coast.  The  tenderfoot  and  the  farmer's 
boy  have  reduced  their  numbers  in  some  places, 
but  the  host  is  still  large  enough  to  afford  infinite 
shooting  for  those  who  know  how  to  take  it. 
Every  shore  of  every  bay  and  inlet  used  to  be 
dotted  all  winter  with  waders,  so  that  a  bag  of  a 
hundred  or  more  was  easy  on  the  ebb  of  any 
tide.  Enough  yet  remain  to  amuse  any  one  who 
cares  little  about  the  size  of  the  bag.  Near  the 
shore  little  brown  plover  trotted  over  the  green- 
ing plains  after  the  first  rains  of  winter,  with 
many  a  curlew  keeping  him  company,  and  they 
often  wandered  miles  back  upon  the  slopes. 
Where  the  ground  was  damp  enough  for  worms, 
Wilson's  snipe,  with  all  his  charming  manners,  was 
quite  sure  to  be  found.  He  has  developed  his 
erratic  ways  and  risen  to  the  emergency  created 
by  new  guns  and  powders  until  he  is  now  about 
the  most  elusive  little  thing  on  earth.  You  can 


558  The  Water-fowl  Family 

get  good  shooting  on  him  in  August  on  his 
breeding-grounds  around  Klamath  Lake,  and 
from  then  until  April  can  find  him  at  his  best 
in  many  parts  of  California. 

Nearly  all  that  is  fair  and  lovely  in  the  com- 
bination of  sunshine  and  birds  finds  its  climax 
at  the  mouth  of  the  Colorado  River.  It  is  one 
of  the  few  places  where  all  the  birds  that  love 
the  water  and  the  shore  can  now  find  rest  for 
their  weary  wings.  It  still  lies  in  all  its  virgin 
simplicity,  and  a  trip  from  Yuma,  about  one  hun- 
dred and  sixty  miles,  will  well  repay  the  time 
and  cost  to  those  who  love  something  far  beyond 
the  orbit  of  the  tenderfoot.  It  can  be  done  by 
wagon,  but  a  canoe  should  be  carried,  and  a 
better  way  is  by  large  boat  down  the  river.  A 
special  excursion  generally  has  to  be  made  up 
at  Yuma,  where  steamboats  are  available  but  no 
reliance  can  be  placed  on  regular  boats.  There 
have  been  none  since  the  railroad  came  to  Yuma 
over  twenty  years  ago.  If  there  were,  it  might 
no  longer  be  a  trip  worth  taking.  For  the  same 
reason  you  cannot  kill  much  game,  for  you  can- 
not even  give  it  away.  But  any  one  who  can 
truly  appreciate  such  a  scene  at  all  is  quite  well 
satisfied  in  looking  at  the  vast  quantities  of  game 
he  will  there  see.  Birds  continue  down  each  side 
the  Gulf  of  California  wherever  there  are  sloughs 
or  inlets  for  ducks  and  s^eese,  while  the  shore- 


The  Water-fowl  of  the  Pacific  Coast    559 

birds  are  plenty  all  along  the  open  shore.  Hence, 
as  far  down  as  Guaymas  and  below,  duck-shoot- 
ing may  be  had  all  winter. 

This  whole  gulf  is  the  winter  home  of  myriads 
of  birds  that  breed  in  the  great  basin  between 
the  Rocky  Mountains  and  the  Sierra  Nevada. 
Many  winter  in  Arizona  and  along  the  Colorado, 
but  the  great  rendezvous  is  at  the  mouth  of  the 
river  and  from  there  down  each  shore.  These 
birds  are  joined  by  myriads  more  that  cross  the 
mountains  of  southern  California.  In  the  wet 
meadows  on  the  top  of  San  Pedro  Martir,  two 
hundred  miles  in  Lower  California  below  the 
American  line,  I  have  found  plenty  of  ducks  in 
September  six  thousand  feet  above  the  sea.  This 
was  but  ten  miles  from  the  eastern  rim,  three 
thousand  feet  higher,  over  which  the  gulf  shim- 
mers nearly  two  miles  below.  These  ducks  were 
no  doubt  waiting  for  colder  weather  to  make  the 
plunge.  I  could  not  determine  whether  they  bred 
there  or  not.  But  ducks  appear  early  on  the 
ponds  at  five  thousand  feet  on  the  mountains  in 
southern  California  and  then  cross  two  hundred 
miles  or  more  of  perfect  desert  to  the  Colorado. 

I  have  several  times  found  shore-birds  crossing 
the  desert  by  way  of  the  Mojave  River,  —  dry 
except  at  long  intervals,  —  making  for  the  Pacific 
Coast,  while  in  spring  large  flocks  of  sand-hill 
cranes,  swinging  high  over  the  mountains  on  their 


560  The  Water-fowl  Family 

way  from  the  mouth  of  the  Colorado  to  the  Pacific 
side,  are  a  common  sight.  It  seems  quite  as  cer- 
tain that  many  of  the  vast  army  of  waders  and 
ducks  at  the  mouth  of  the  Colorado  have  made 
the  entire  trip  of  two  thousand  miles  from  San 
Diego  around  Cape  St.  Lucas  and  up  the  shores 
of  the  Gulf  of  California  to  its  head.  The  fact 
that  most  of  the  waders  must  have  made  the 
trip  on  foot  does  not  detract  from  its  probability. 
For  the  birds  are  found  on  both  sides  of  the  gulf 
and  all  the  way  around  the  point  of  the  peninsula 
of  Lower  California,  and  they  do  not  breed  there. 
Almost  the  whole  of  the  way  the  land  is  perfect 
desert,  on  much  of  which  no  living  thing  is  seen, 
or  could  exist  without  being  seen,  while  on  the 
parts  that  are  not  desert  these  birds  seem  equally 
unknown.  At  high  tide  they  often  go  ashore, 
and  in  some  places  it  is  so  high  they  have 
to ;  but  that  is  the  only  time  they  are  ever  known 
far  from  the  water's  edge,  while  in  summer  not 
one  is  seen  even  there,  though  the  shore  is  lined 
with  them  in  winter. 

From  Yuma  the  Colorado  winds  through  one 
of  the  most  dangerous  deserts  of  the  world.  But 
for  two  or  three  miles  from  the  river  most  of  the 
land  is  extremely  fertile  from  its  overflow,  while 
sloughs  and  branches  extend  this  area  much  far- 
ther in  places.  But  the  banks  are  robed  in 
timber  that  cuts  off  the  view  so  much  that  some 


The  Water-fowl  of  the  Pacific  Coast    561 

one  in  the  party  must  know  the  country,  or 
thousands  of  acres  of  the  finest  duck  ground 
would  lie  unsuspected.  Near  the  river  the  land 
is  very  flat,  and  the  mountains  that  lie  so  dreamily 
on  the  horizon  are  the  boundaries  of  many  a 
league  of  desert.  Near  its  mouth  the  river  widens 
out  into  great  flats  of  fine  alluvium  that  in  the 
intensely  dry  air,  dry  even  at  the  edge  of  the 
gulf,  make  the  most  marvellous  mirage,  which  will 
show  you  —  at  shooting  distance,  too  —  all  the 
little  lakes  filled  with  ducks,  cranes,  and  snipe  you 
want.  On  these  flats  you  will  find  many  waders 
driven  from  the  shore  by  the  great  tide  of  this 
section  and  can  bag  all  you  wish,  but  the  grand 
sight  is  on  the  salt  shores  when  the  tide  is  out. 
Miles  up  the  mouth  of  the  river  snowy  pelicans 
sailing  high  in  great  flocks  warn  you  that  you 
are  nearing  some  large  body  of  water,  while  sand- 
hill cranes  floating  far  above  them,  ducks  whiz- 
zing here  and  there,  with  geese  whitening  or 
darkening  the  horizon,  tell  you  there  is  some 
feed  in  this  country  outside  of  the  salt  shores.  I 
have  found  sloughs  here  out  of  which  the  ducks 
and  geese  could  not  be  driven  by  any  amount  of 
shooting,  yet  with  hard  bottoms,  very  uniform 
depth  of  water,  and  all  the  conditions  for  ideal 
shooting.  In  the  immense  reeds  that  lined  all 
the  water  and  grew  far  out  into  it,  I  had  an  end- 
less choice  of  blinds.  So  plenty  was  the  game 


2  O 


562  The  Water-fowl  Family 

that  we  located  it  from  the  boat  nearly  two  miles 
away  by  its  noise,  and  when  we  reached  the  spot 
it  was  one  continuous  roar  of  wings  and  whiz 
of  returning  and  circling  birds.  Every  variety 
found  on  the  coast  was  there,  with  sand-hill  cranes, 
snipe,  and  plover  in  quantities  like  those  of  the 
olden  time.  This  depends  largely  on  the  time 
and  extent  of  the  overflow.  In  some  years  and 
earlier  in  the  season  the  sloughs  would  be  larger 
as  well  as  deeper  and  more  numerous.  Decem- 
ber is  the  best  time,  though  any  time  during  the 
winter  will  do. 

All  birds  seem  to  stay  here  long  after  the 
weather  is  warm  enough  farther  north,  with  more 
and  better  feed,  as  far  as  man  can  see.  Here  on 
the  mud-flats  of  the  river  the  tall  curlew,  arrayed 
in  brown  and  buff,  wings  his  winding  way  on 
every  hand,  his  sonorous  call  ringing  from  shore 
to  shore ;  and  there  his  long,  curved  bill  explores 
the  shore,  with  the  avocet,  in  black  and  white, 
and  bill  curved  up  instead  of  down,  matching  him 
in  his  stately  march  to  dinner.  Far  up  and  down 
the  shore  gleams  the  contrast  of  black  and  white 
on  the  turnstone,  or  oyster-catcher,  as  he  plies  his 
shorter  bill  among  the  larger  shellfish,  while  the 
same  colors  on  the  stately  stilt  enlarge  the  dig- 
nity with  which,  on  longer  leg,  he  struts  about 
among  the  grayer  brethren. 

Phalaropes  ?     If  there  ever  were  any,  they  are 


The  Heater-fowl  of  tbe  Pacific  Coast    563 

all  here  in  thousands  of  lines  of  gray  and  brown, 
threading  the  lines  of  white  and  black,  ever  wind- 
ing over  miles  of  mud.  Godwits  by  the  hundred 
trot  here  and  there,  in  tawny  robes  like  those  of 
the  curlew,  the  difference  in  their  straight  bills 
being  hardly  noticeable  at  any  great  distance, 
while  sandpipers  of  many  sizes,  in  pepper-and- 
salt,  gray,  brown,  and  their  various  mixtures,  scud 
here  and  there  on  legs  filmy  with  speed  or  whisk 
about  on  nebulous  wing.  Here  are  noisy  tattlers 
by  the  score,  looking  as  happy  as  if  these  shores 
were  all  the  world,  rising  into  occasional  flight 
and  putting  on  great  airs  only  to  descend  again 
to  plain  mud.  And  here  are  dowitchers  by  the 
thousand,  looking  often  like  the  lovely  Wilson's 
snipe  to  the  eye  of  the  tenderfoot,  and  sanderlings, 
whose  black  and  ashy  tints  mingled  with  red, 
with  their  shorter  bills  and  legs,  make  them  look 
like  plover  and  willets,  with  colors  quite  as  gamy, 
but  longer  of  leg  and  neck  and  more  noisy.  And 
mingled  with  these  is  the  glossy  ibis,  whose  dark 
greenish  bronze  shines  so  brightly  in  the  strong 
sunlight  that  streams  through  this  dry  air;  and 
the  big  white  wood-ibis  often  rises  into  the  vault 
of  heaven,  on  sailing  wing,  to  circle  among  the 
sand-hill  cranes  and  pelicans,  with  even  greater 
grace,  as  they  look  down  upon  the  vast  throng 
of  birds  that  dot  the  shining  mud  for  many  a 
league. 


564  The  Water-fowl  Family 

When  all  these,  with  the  herons,  bitterns,  and 
snowy  egrets  that  winter  here  and  the  vast  troops 
of  ducks  that,  out  on  the  gulf,  cover  thousands  of 
acres  or  sweep  in  great  clouds  across  the  shim- 
mering surface,  unite  in  the  field  of  vision,  even 
the  tenderfoot  will  lay  down  his  gun  and  look  in 
amazement,  while  the  expert  will  hardly  think  of 
taking  it  up.  All  ideas  of  shooting  are  lost  when 
one  looks  down  the  miles  of  moving  specks  along 
the  shore  that  twine  and  intertwine  in  a  million 
curling  lines,  while  from  the  water  comes  the  roar 
of  as  many  wings,  all  in  one  dark  haze  that  shuts 
out  the  sky  beyond. 


DIAGNOSES   OF   FAMILIES   AND 
GENERA 

THE  WATER-FOWL 

CLASS  AVES.  Order  Anseres.  The  Lamellirostral  Swimmers.  (Swim- 
ming birds  having  toothlike  serrations  or  lamellae  on  the  bill.)  Only 
one  family  in  order  :  the  Anatida  —  ducks,  geese,  and  swans. 

Family  Anatidae.  Swimming  birds  usually  of  large  size  with  short  tails. 
Wings  of  moderate  length,  strong  and  pointed,  giving  vigorous  and 
whistling  flight.  Bill  covered  with  a  leathery  integument,  with  a  hard 
nail  at  the  tip  and  usually  broad  and  flat.  Short  legs  with  the  tibia 
almost  buried  in  the  feathers.  Tarsus  flattened.  Anterior  toes  webbed  ; 
hind  toe  always  present  but  usually  small.  Praecocial  young.  There 
are  five  subfamilies  found  in  North  America  —  Mergince,  Anatina, 
Fuligulince,  Anserince,  Cygnina. 

Subfamily  Merginae.  The  Mergansers.  Type:  Neck  shorter  than  body; 
tarsus  shorter  than  middle  toe  without  claw.  Bill  narrow,  nearly  cylin- 
drical, long,  with  hooked  nail  and  toothlike  serrations  on  cutting 
edge  of  upper  mandible ;  no  lamellae  on  sides  of  lower  mandible. 
Lores  feathered.  Tarsus  with  transverse  scales  in  front;  hind  toe 
with  a  lobe.  Sexes  unlike. 

This  subfamily  contains  three  genera  —  Merganser,  Lophodytes, 
and  Mergus  —  and  about  nine  species,  of  which  most  belong  to  the 
Northern  hemisphere.  They  are  birds  of  handsome  plumage,  fre- 
quent both  fresh  and  salt  water,  feed  chiefly  on  fish,  which  renders 
their  flesh  unpalatable,  and  some  of  them  nest  in  hollow  trees. 

Generic  Types.  Merganser.  Length  of  bill  three  times  its  depth  at  base. 
Bill  longer  than  head  and  than  tarsus  with  very  conspicuous  toothlike 
serrations  on  both  mandibles,  which  are  inclined  strongly  backward. 
Head  with  a  slight  and  pointed  occipital  crest.  Tarsus  about  two-thirds 
as  long  as  middle  toe  with  claw.  Tail  about  half  as  long  as  wing. 
Bill  reddish.  Two  species  of  genus  are  found  in  North  America. 

Lophodytes.  Length  of  bill  three  times  its  depth  at  base.  Bill 
shorter  than  head  but  longer  than  tarsus,  with  serrations  on  mandibles, 

565 


566  The  Water-fowl  Family 

short  and  blunt,  not  pointing  backward.  Crest  of  male  large  and 
semicircular.  Tarsus  about  half  as  long  as  middle  toe  with  claw. 
Tail  more  than  half  as  long  as  wing.  Bill  black.  One  species  in 
genus,  confined  to  North  America. 

Mergus.  Length  of  bill  about  twice  its  depth  at  base.  Bill  shorter 
than  head,  also  shorter  than  tarsus,  with  the  serrations  on  mandibles 
as  in  Lophodytes,  but  smaller  and  more  numerous.  Crest  as  in  Lopho- 
dytes,  but  smaller.  Bill  blackish.  One  species  in  genus,  a  native  of 
the  eastern  hemisphere;  accidental  in  North  America. 
Subfamily  Anatinas :  The  River-ducks.  Type :  Neck  shorter  than 
body.  Tarsus  shorter  than  middle  toe,  without  claw.  Bill  broad, 
flattened,  with  toothlike  nail  ;  the  lower  mandible  with  a  series  of 
lamellae  on  sides  and  on  cutting  edge.  Lores  feathered.  Tarsus  with 
transverse  scales  in  front.  Hind  toe  without  a  lobe.  Sexes  unlike. 
Wing  usually  with  metallic  speculum. 

This  subfamily  contains  in  North  America  nine  genera,  one  of 
which  only  occurs  as  a  straggler  in  Greenland,  and  sixteen  species 
and  subspecies.  The  males  are  birds  of  striking  plumage,  with  usu- 
ally a  metallic  patch  of  feathers  on  the  wing;  the  females  much 
plainer.  They  frequent  chiefly  fresh  water,  live  largely  on  vegetable 
food,  and  have,  consequently,  flesh  of  fine  flavor.  Most  species  nest 
on  the  ground. 

Generic  Types.  Anas.  Bill  about  as  long  as  head,  broad,  sides  almost 
parallel,  slightly  widening  toward  tip.  Culmen  depressed  in  centre, 
rising  toward  base  and  tip.  Lamellae  of  bill  scarcely  exposed.  Specu- 
lum brilliant.  Tail  rounded,  of  pointed  feathers.  Three  species  and 
two  subspecies  found  in  North  America. 

Chaulelasmus.  Bill  somewhat  shorter  than  head,  rather  narrow, 
the  sides  parallel.  Culmen  slightly  depressed  in  centre,  level  toward 
base  and  tip.  Lamellae  of  bill  plainly  exposed.  Speculum  dull.  Tail 
short  and  rounded,  of  pointed  feathers.  One  species  in  genus,  al- 
most cosmopolitan. 

Mareca.  Bill  as  in  Chaulelasmus,  but  rising  somewhat  toward  base. 
Lamellae  only  slightly  exposed.  Speculum  of  male  bright.  Tail  pointed. 
Two  species  are  found  in  North  America,  one  only  as  a  straggler  (?). 

Nettion.  Size  very  small.  Bill  shorter  than  head,  very  narrow, 
sides  almost  parallel.  Culmen  straight  in  terminal  two-thirds,  rising 
at  base.  Breadth  of  nail  about  one-fifth  breadth  tip  of  bill.  The 
lamellae  completely  concealed.  Speculum  green ;  no  blue  on  wing. 
Nape  with  a  small  crest.  Two  species  of  this  genus  are  found  in  North 
America,  one  only  as  a  straggler. 


Diagnoses  of  Families  and  Genera    567 

Querquedula.  Size  very  small.  Bill  about  as  long  as  head,  nar- 
row, but  broader  than  in  Nettion.  Culmen  rounding  toward  tip. 
Breadth  of  nail  about  one-third  the  breadth  of  tip  of  bill.  Lamellae 
concealed.  Speculum  greenish.  Blue  on  wing-coverts.  Nape  without 
a  crest.  Two  species  are  found  in  North  America. 

Casarca.  Size  about  that  of  Anas.  Sides  of  bill  nearly  straight. 
Culmen  almost  straight.  Lamellae  of  bill  distinctly  exposed.  Specu- 
lum bright.  Plumage  striking.  One  species  of  genus  is  a  rare  strag- 
gler to  North  America. 

Spatula.  Bill  much  longer  than  head,  narrow  at  base  and  very 
wide  at  tip  (twice  as  wide  at  tip  as  at  base),  the  edges  of  upper 
mandible  hanging  over  the  lower  in  the  shape  of  a  spoon,  nail  form- 
ing a  hook.  Lamellae  many  and  entirely  exposed.  Tail  short  and 
pointed  with  sharply  pointed  feathers.  Wing  as  in  Querquedula. 
The  one  species  found  in  North  America  occurs  throughout  the 
northern  hemisphere. 

Dafila.  Neck  very  long.  Bill  as  in  Mareca,  about  three  times  as 
long  as  wide.  Tail  wedge-shaped,  with  sharply  pointed  feathers  ;  in 
adult  male  two  central  feathers  projecting  far  beyond  the  rest. 
Speculum  of  male  brilliant,  of  female  dull.  The  one  species  found  in 
North  America  occurs  throughout  the  northern  hemisphere. 

Aix.  Bill  shorter  than  head,  very  high  at  base,  depressed  toward 
tip.  Nail  very  large  and  much  curved.  Lamellae  few.  Base  of  maxilla 
extending  on  side  of  head  nearly  to  eye.  Male  with  a  large  crest  of 
silky  feathers,  female  with  a  small  crest.  Tail  feathers  broad  and 
rounded  at  tip.  One  species  found  in  North  America. 
Subfamily  Fuligulinse.  The  Sea-ducks.  Type:  similar  to  the 
Anatinte,  but  hind  toe  with  a  membranous  lobe.  Feet  larger,  and 
legs  placed  farther  back.  Wing  usually  without  metallic  speculum. 

This  family  contains  in  North  America  thirteen  genera  and  twenty- 
four  species,  of  which  one  is  believed  to  be  extinct.  One  genus  only 
occurs  as  a  straggler,  and  another  only  reaches  the  coast  of  Texas 
except  as  a  wanderer.  Like  the  Anatina,  the  males  are  birds  of 
handsome  plumage,  the  females  usually  much  plainer.  They  fre- 
quent chiefly  salt  water,  gathering  sometimes  in  enormous  flocks, 
feeding  largely  on  shellfish.  As  a  result  of  this  food  their  flesh  is 
not  considered  desirable.  The  genera  Aythya  and  Erismatura  feed 
on  vegetable  substances,  and  their  flesh  is  excellent.  They  greatly 
excel  the  river-ducks  in  their  ability  to  dive;  but  on  the  wing 
their  flight  is  less  graceful,  and  they  do  not  rise  as  easily  from  the 
water. 


568  The  Heater-fowl  Family 

Generic  Types.  Netta.  Bill  broad,  widest  at  base,  narrowing  toward 
tip,  longer  than  tarsus.  Culmen  much  depressed  toward  tip.  Nail 
large,  more  than  one-third  as  wide  as  bill  at  middle.  Outline  of  loral 
feathering  straight  or  slightly  concave.  Tail  short  and  rounded. 
Head  of  male  crested.  One  species  occurs  as  a  straggler  in  North 
America. 

Aythya.  Bill  similar  to  Netta  except  in  one  species,  but  sometimes 
wider  at  tip  than  at  base.  Nail  less  than  one-third  as  wide  as  bill  at 
middle.  Outline  of  loral  feathering  convex.  Tail  short  and  rounded. 
Head  not  crested.  Five  species  occur  in  North  America. 

Clangula.  Bill  much  shorter  than  head,  high  and  broad  at  base, 
and  tapering  to  tip.  Nail  small  and  narrow.  Nostrils  in  front  of  the 
middle  of  the  bill.  Tail  rather  long  and  rounded,  more  than  twice  as 
long  as  tarsus.  Head  of  adult  male  green  with  white  spot  in  front  of 
eye.  Two  species  found  in  North  America. 

Charitonetta.  Bill  as  in  Clangula,  but  nostrils  behind  middle  of 
bill.  Tail  rather  long  and  rounded,  about  twice  as  long  as  tarsus. 
Head  of  adult  male,  purple,  green,  and  violet,  with  broad  white  wedge 
behind  eye.  One  species  in  genus,  a  native  of  North  America. 

Harelda.  Bill  much  shorter  than  head  and  about  as  long  as  tarsus, 
highest  and  widest  at  base,  tapering  to  tip.  Nail  large  and  broad. 
Nostrils  high  and  near  base  of  bill.  Anterior  outline  of  loral  feather- 
ing nearly  a  straight  line.  Tail  pointed,  the  middle  feathers  in  adult 
male,  as  well  as  the  scapulars,  much  elongated,  the  former  as  long  as 
wing.  One  species  in  genus,  common  throughout  the  northern 
hemisphere. 

Histrionicus.  Bill  very  small  and  short,  much  shorter  than  head 
and  shorter  than  tarsus,  high  and  broad  at  base,  tapering  to  tip.  Nail 
very  large  and  broad,  occupying  entire  end  of  bill.  Nostrils  as  in 
Harelda.  Anterior  outline  of  loral  feathering  convex.  Tail  short, 
about  half  as  long  as  wing,  the  scapulars  elongated.  A  metallic 
speculum.  One  species  in  genus  found  in  northern  North  America. 

Camptolaimus.  Bill  nearly  as  long  as  head,  very  broad,  width  at 
base  equal  to  one-half  the  length  of  the  culmen,  widened  toward  tip  by 
leathery  expansion  on  the  edge  of  maxilla.  Nostrils  high  in  basal  third 
of  bill.  Lamellge  of  under  mandible  prominent.  Feathers  of  cheeks 
stiffened,  bristle-like,  with  horny  ends,  extending  in  a  convex  line  on 
side  of  upper  mandible.  Tail  short.  Speculum  white.  One  species 
in  genus,  formerly  in  northeastern  North  America,  now  probably  extinct. 

Eniconetta.  Bill  shorter  than  head,  not  swollen,  and  without  pro- 
longations on  forehead,  compressed,  width  at  base  much  less  than  half 


Diagnoses  of  Families  and  Genera    569 

the  length  of  the  culmen,  not  feathered  as  far  as  the  nostrils,  the  edges 
of  the  maxilla  bent  over  the  mandible.  Nail  very  large  and  broad, 
forming  tip  of  bill,  not  hooked.  Nostrils  near  base  and  high  on  max- 
illa. Speculum  violet.  One  species  in  genus,  a  bird  of  the  far  North. 

Arctonetta.  Bill  shorter  than  head,  tapering  from  base  to  tip,  not 
swollen,  and  without  prolongations  on  forehead,  feathered  on  the  cul- 
men beyond  the  nostrils,  this  feathering  sweeping  backward  in  an 
oblique  line  from  culmen  to  mouth.  Nail  as  in  Eniconetta.  No  specu- 
lum. Eyes  surrounded  by  an  elevated  space  of  short,  velvety  feathers. 
One  species  in  genus,  found  in  Bering  Sea. 

Somateria.  Bill  about  half  as  long  as  head,  much  swollen,  with 
prolongations  stretching  far  back  on  forehead,  feathering  extending 
well  forward  on  culmen  and  on  sides  toward  nostrils.  Nail  large  and 
broad,  hooked  and  forming  tip  of  bill.  No  speculum.  Tertiaries 
curving  downward  over  wing.  Male  black  and  white,  female  brown. 
Four  species  are  found  in  North  America,  two  confined  to  the  North 
Atlantic,  one  to  Bering  Sea,  and  the  fourth  a  bird  of  the  far  North. 

Oidemia.  Bill  much  swollen  at  base,  depressed  at  tip,  with  no  pro- 
longations on  forehead.  Large,  hooked  nail  forms  entire  tip  of  bill. 
Nostrils  usually  in  front  of  the  middle  of  bill.  Feathering  extending 
farther  on  culmen  than  on  lores.  No  speculum.  Male  black,  female 
dusky.  Bills  of  males  brightly  colored.  Four  species  occur  in  North 
America,  but  one  only  as  a  straggler,  and  all  breed  in  northern  lati- 
tudes. 

Erismatura.  Bill  about  as  long  as  head,  very  broad,  almost  as 
broad  as  high  at  base,  and  widened  and  depressed  at  end.  Tail 
feathers  very  stiff,  narrow,  and  pointed,  with  the  shafts  grooved  on  the 
lower  side.  Tail-coverts  very  short.  Nail  of  bill  very  narrow  at  first, 
then  widening,  and  curved  in  a  hook  over  the  mandible.  One  species 
is  found  in  North  America. 

Nomonyx.  Similar  to  Erismatura;  but  bill  rather  more  narrow, 
with  the  nail  large  and  broad  and  not  bent  downward  in  a  hook  over 
mandible.  Inner  secondaries  long,  folding  over  primaries.  Only  one 
species  in  genus,  a  native  of  tropical  America. 

Subfamily  Anserinse.  The  Geese.  Type:  Neck  somewhat  shorter 
than  body.  Tarsus  longer  than  middle  toe  without  claw.  Bill  usually 
short,  high  and  compressed  at  base,  and  tapering  to  rather  narrow  tip, 
which  has  a  broad  nail.  Lamellae  present  on  mandible.  Lores 
feathered.  Tarsus  with  small,  irregular  plates-  in  front.  Hind  toe 
without  a  lobe.  Sexes  alike.  Wing  rarely  with  metallic  speculum ; 
no  speculum  in  North  American  species. 


570  The  Water-fowl  Family 

This  subfamily  contains  in  North  America  five  genera  and 
eighteen  species  and  subspecies  ;  of  these  four  occur  only  irregularly, 
and  two  others  are  chiefly  confined  to  the  southern  border  of  the 
United  States.  The  geese  are  large  birds,  with  long  and  powerful 
wings  and  great  powers  of  flight.  Most  of  them  inhabit  the  far  North 
in  the  breeding  season,  —  the  genus  Dendrocygna  being  an  exception 
in  North  America,  — coming  at  the  approach  of  winter  to  the  lakes 
and  bays  of  the  United  States,  where  they  assemble  in  large  flocks. 
They  are  fine  swimmers  but  do  not  dive,  feeding  consequently  in 
shallow  water  and  often  on  the  land ;  they  feed  chiefly  on  grasses 
growing  either  on  water  or  land,  and  the  flesh  is  therefore  valuable 
for  the  table. 

Generic  Types.  Chen.  Bill  about  as  long  as  head  and  tapering,  very 
stout  at  base  and  higher  than  broad,  its  depth  at  base  more  than 
half  the  length  of  culmen;  the  cutting  edges  of  both  mandibles 
bevelled  off,  leaving  an  elliptical  space  in  which  the  large  serrations  or 
lamellae  are  very  prominent.  Nostrils  in  basal  portion  of  bill.  Head 
and  neck  of  adults  white.  Bill  and  feet  pink.  Four  species  and  sub- 
species found  in  North  America. 

Anser.  Bill  not  longer  than  head,  tapering,  very  stout  at  base 
and  higher  than  broad,  but  not  as  high  as  in  Chen,  its  depth  at  base 
less  than  half  length  of  culmen  ;  the  cutting  edges  of  mandibles 
slightly  bevelled,  leaving  serrations  somewhat  exposed  for  more  than 
half  the  edge.  Nostrils  in  basal  portion  of  the  bill.  Head  and  neck 
never  white.  Bill  pink  and  feet  yellow  in  North  American  species. 
Two  species  and  one  subspecies  occur  in  North  America,  but  two  of 
them  are  only  recorded  from  Greenland. 

Branta.  Bill  shorter  than  head,  tapering,  moderately  stout  at 
base;  cutting  edges  very  little,  if  at  all,  bevelled,  and  serrations  only 
visible  at  extreme  base.  Nostrils  in  middle  of  bill.  Head  and  neck 
black.  Tail-coverts  and  crissum  white.  Bill  and  feet  black.  Eight 
species  and  subspecies  are  found  in  North  America;  of  these  two 
are  only  stragglers  from  Europe. 

Philacte,  Bill  not  longer  than  head,  tapering,  moderately  stout, 
the  nail  very  large,  occupying  nearly  one-third  of  maxilla,  serrations 
only  visible  at  extreme  base  of  maxilla.  Nostrils  in  basal  half  of  bill. 
Head  white.  Tail-coverts  and  crissum  grayish.  Bill  pinkish  and  feet 
yellow.  Skull  with  superorbital  depressions.  Only  one  species  in 
genus,  an  inhabitant  of  the  Bering  Sea  coast  of  Alaska. 

Dendrocygna.  Bill  much  longer  than  head,  the  edges  nearly 
parallel,  not  stouter  at  base.  Nail  prominent  and  decurved,  serra- 


Diagnoses  of  Families  and  Genera    571 

tions  of  maxilla  not  showing.  Nostrils  in  basal  portion.  Hind  toe 
more  than  one -third  as  long  as  tarsus.  Plumage,  bill,  and  feet  varie- 
gated. Two  species  of  genus  are  found  in  the  southern  United  States. 

Subfamily  Cygninae.  Sivans.  Size  very  large.  Neck  as  long  or 
longer  than  body.  Bill  longer  than  head,  broad  and  flat  at  base, 
with  sides  nearly  parallel  and  a  small  nail  at  tip.  Lores  partly  naked. 
Tarsus  with  small,  irregular  plates  in  front,  shorter  than  middle 
toe  and  claw.  Hind  toe  without  a  lobe.  Sexes  alike.  Wing  with- 
out metallic  speculum.  Tail  with  twenty  to  twenty-four  feathers. 

This  subfamily  contains  four  genera  and  eight  or  ten  species,  of 
which  one  genus,  containing  three  species,  is  found  in  North  America. 
They  are  the  largest  of  the  Anatidce,  measuring  more  than  three  feet 
in  length.  The  adults  of  species  indigenous  to  the  northern  hemi- 
sphere are  pure  white  in  color.  Like  the  geese  they  are  vegetable 
feeders,  frequenting  retired  localities,  and  seldom  occur  in  large  flocks. 
None  of  them  are  now  common  in  most  of  North  America.  As  a  rule 
they  are  silent,  but  have  a  sonorous  voice. 

Generic  Type.  Olor.  Color  of  adults  white.  Tertiaries  and  scapulars 
normal.  Tail  rounded  and  longer  than  middle  toe  and  claw.  The 
young  with  downy  lores,  projecting  in  a  distinct  angle  on  the  sides 
of  the  bill.  The  distinction  between  this  genus  and  Cygnus  is  very 
unsatisfactory.  Three  species  are  found  in  North  America,  one  occur- 
ring only  in  Greenland. 

THE  RAILS 

Order  Paludicolae  (literally  translated  the  "marsh  dwellers"). 

Family  Rallidae.  The  Rails,  Gallinules,  and  Coots.  A  large  family  with 
many  species,  distributed  over  most  of  the  world.  Small  or  medium- 
sized  birds  with  usually  narrow  bodies  and  powerful  thighs,  living  in 
marshes  and  trusting  to  their  strong  legs,  rather  than  to  their  short 
and  rounded  wings,  for  safety  and  subsistence.  Divided  into  sub- 
families,—  Railing,  Gallinulina,  and  Fulicina. 

Family  Type.  Wing  short,  rounded,  and  concave,  when  folded  not  reach- 
ing to  end  of  tail.  Head  completely  feathered,  or  with  frontal  shield. 
Nostrils  open.  Tail  soft  and  feeble,  almost  hidden  by  the  coverts. 
Toes  long,  without  basal  membrane.  Hind  toe  long.  First  quill 
longer  than  the  seventh,  its  inner  web  normal.  Wing  less  than  ten 
inches  long.  Bill  and  feet  vary  greatly. 

Subfamily  Rallinae.  The  Rails.  Type  :  Forehead  feathered  to  base  of 
bill,  no  frontal  shield.  Toes  without  lobes.  Body  much  compressed. 
Three  genera  —  Rallus,  Porzana,  and  Crex  —  in  North  America, 


572  The  Water-fowl  Family 

Generic  Types.  Rallus.  Bill  long,  slender,  decurved,  longer  than  head, 
and  as  long  as,  or  longer  than,  tarsus.  Nasal  groove  long,  deep,  and 
narrow,  extending  about  two-thirds  of  culmen.  Nostrils  in  basal 
fourth,  long  and  narrow.  Tarsus  equal  to  middle  toe  without  claw. 
No  pronounced  angle  on  mandible. 

Porzana.  Bill  short,  stout,  straight,  compressed,  not  longer  than 
head,  and  not  more  than  two-thirds  as  long  as  tarsus.  Nasal  groove 
broad,  shallow,  and  extending  about  two-thirds  of  culmen.  Nostrils 
in  second  fourth,  broad  and  oblong.  Tarsus  not  longer,  often  shorter, 
than  middle  toe  without  claw.  No  pronounced  angle  at  gonys  on 
mandible.  Folded  wings  not  reaching  nearly  to  end  of  tail. 

Crex.  Similar  to  Porzana,  but  tarsus  longer  than  middle  toe.  Folded 
wings  reaching  nearly  to  end  of  tail.  A  pronounced  angle  on  gonys. 

Subfamily  Gallinulinae.  The  Gallinules.  Type  :  Forehead  with  a  broad, 
horny,  frontal  shield.  Toes  without  lateral  lobes.  Body  somewhat 
compressed.  Bill  much  as  in  Porzana.  Two  genera  in  North 
America,  —  Gallinula  and  lonornis. 

Generic  Types.  lonornis.  Bill  very  stout  and  high.  Nostrils  oval. 
Tarsus  longer  than  middle  toe  without  claw.  Inner  posterior  sur- 
face of  tarsus  covered  with  a  single  row  of  large,  square  scales.  Toes 
without  lateral  marginal  membrane. 

Gallinula.  Bill  more  slender  and  not  so  high.  Nostrils  elon- 
gated. Tarsus  shorter  than  middle  toe  without  claw.  Inner  poste- 
rior surface  of  tarsus  covered  with  several  rows  of  hexagonal  scales. 
Toes  with  narrow  marginal  membrane. 

Subfamily  Fulicinae.  The  Coots.  Type :  Bill  and  frontal  plate  of  head 
as  in  Gallinulince.  All  toes  with  broad  lateral  lobes.  One  North 
American  genus,  —  Fitlica. 

Generic  Type.  Tarsus  heavy,  shorter  than  middle  toe  without  claw,  and 
covered  with  rather  broad  scales.  Nostrils  long  and  broad,  near  the 
middle  of  the  bill.  Plumage  dark  slate.  Bill  of  adults  whitish. 

THE   SHORE-BIRDS 

Order  Limicolae.  (The  shore-birds,  literally  translated  the  "  mud-dwellers," 
so  named  from  the  habits  of  most  of  the  order.)  Wading  birds,  usu- 
ally of  small  size  with  short  tails,  long  and  usually  pointed  wings, 
usually  long  and  pointed  bill,  long  legs,  and  elevated,  small,  or  want- 
ing hind  toe,  or  if  hind  toe  long,  claws  very  long  with  a  spur  on  the 
wing,  and  with  prsecocial  young.  Seven  families  with  nearly  seventy 
species  are  found  in  North  America. 


Diagnoses  of  Families  and  Genera     573 

Family  Phalaropodidae.  The  Phalaropes.  A  family  containing  three 
species  of  small,  lobe-footed  birds  of  aquatic  habits,  at  least  two  species 
spending  most  of  the  year  on  the  waters  of  the  ocean.  Three  genera 
with  one  species  in  each,  —  Crymophilus,  Phalaropus,  and  Steganopus. 

Family  Type.  Small  size.  Bill  equal  to  or  longer  than  head.  Tarsus 
greatly  compressed.  Legs  with  transverse  scales.  Anterior  toes  with 
lateral  membrane,  posterior  lobed.  Neck  long.  Feathers  of  breast 
compact  and  ducklike. 

Generic  Types.  Crymophilus.  Bill  broad,  straight,  and  flattened.  Tarsus 
short,  equal  to  middle  toe  and  claw,  also  equal  to  culmen.  Marginal 
web  of  toes  broad,  scalloped  at  joints. 

Phalaropus.  Bill  slender  and  pointed.  Tarsus  longer  than  middle 
toe  and  claw,  but  shorter  than  culmen.  Marginal  web  on  toes  broad, 
scalloped  at  joints. 

Steganopus.  Bill  long,  slender,  pointed.  Tarsus  longer  than  mid- 
dle toe  and  claw,  and  equal  to  culmen.  Marginal  web  narrow  and 
barely  scalloped. 

Crymophilus  and  Phalaropus  are  found  throughout  the  northern 
hemisphere,  while  Steganopus  is  confined  to  America. 

Family  Recurvirostridae.  The  Avocets  and  Stilts.  A  family  of  about  a 
dozen  species  of  large  birds,  noticeable  for  their  peculiar  bills  and 
long,  slender  legs.  Two  genera  in  North  America  with  one  species  in 
each,  —  Recurvirostra  and  Himantopus. 

Family  Type.  Size  large.  Bill  very  long  and  slender.  Neck  long. 
Legs  long  and  slender.  Tarsus  covered  with  hexagonal  scales,  smaller 
behind.  Anterior  toes  all  somewhat  connected  by  membrane. 

Generic  Types.  Recurvirostra.  Bill  strongly  recurved.  Tarsus  not 
more  than  twice  the  length  of  middle  toe  and  claw.  Anterior  toes 
fully  webbed.  Hind  toe  present. 

Himantopus.  Bill  nearly  straight.  Neck  and  legs  very  long. 
Tarsus  more  than  twice  the  length  of  middle  toe  and  claw.  Anterior 
toes  scarcely  webbed  and  divided  to  the  base.  Hind  toe  absent. 

Family  Scolopacidae.  The  Woodcocks,  Snipes,  Sandpipers,  etc.  This 
is  the  largest  family  of  the  shore-birds,  and  of  it  about  forty-five 
species  have  been  recorded  from  North  America,  and  of  these 
several  show  geographical  variation  sufficient  to  entitle  them  to  sub- 
'  specific  names.  Most  of  the  birds  commonly  known  as  shore-birds 
belong  to  this  family,  and  although  the  majority  are  small,  a  few  are 
among  the  largest  of  the  Limicolse.  In  coloring  and  shape  of  bill 
the  species  differ  greatly,  and  those  occurring  in  North  America  are 
grouped  in  nineteen  genera  and  several  subgenera. 


574  The  Water-fowl  Family 

Family  Type.  Agrees  with  Phalaropodidcc  and  Recurvirostrida  in  having 
the  nostrils  narrow  and  fissured,  the  nasal  groove  extending  well 
toward  tip  of  culmen,  the  bill  lengthened  and  straight  beyond  the 
nostrils,  and  not  compressed  or  indented  around  them.  In  addition, 
bill  slender,  usually  longer  than  the  head,  the  nasal  groove  ex- 
tending beyond  middle  with  blunt,  sometimes  expanded,  tip  ;  the 
last  often  soft  and  fleshy.  Neck  usually  long.  Tarsus  with  trans- 
verse scales  before,  and  behind  except  in  Numenius.  Toes  not 
margined  with  membrane  broadly  to  tips,  with  or  without  basal 
membrane.  Hind  toe  generally  present. 

Generic  Types.  Scolopax.  Size  medium.  Bill  much  longer  than  tarsus; 
tip  of  upper  mandible  thickened.  Ears  placed  beneath  the  eye. 
Plumage  same  at  all  seasons.  Toes  free  to  base.  Head  with  trans- 
verse bands  on  top.  Tips  of  tail  feathers  below  silvery  white.  Thighs 
entirely  feathered.  Three  outer  primaries  longest,  and  broad  like 
the  rest.  Outer  webs  of  quills  spotted.  One  species  in  genus,  a 
straggler  to  North  America. 

Philohela.  Size  medium.  Distinguished  from  Scolopax  by  having 
the  three  outermost  primaries  abruptly  much  shorter  and  narrower 
than  the  others  and  outer  webs  of  quills  plain.  The  only  species  of 
the  genus  is  North  American. 

Gallinago.  Size  medium.  Distinguished  from  Scolopax  by  having 
the  head  marked  longitudinally  above,  tips  of  tail  feathers  below, 
buff,  and  lower  part  of  thighs  naked.  One  species  indigenous  to 
North  America,  and  two  as  stragglers. 

Macrorhamphus.  Size  medium.  Bill  much  longer  than  tarsus.  Tip 
of  upper  mandible  thick.  Outer  and  middle  toes  connected  by  web  at 
base.  Ears  placed  behind  the  eye.  Plumage  very  different  in  summer 
and  winter.  (Both  these  latter  characteristics  common  to  rest  of  the 
genera  of  Scolopacidce.}  Two  species  in  genus,  both  North  American. 

Micropalama.  Size  rather  small.  Bill  long,  slender,  straight,  slightly 
widened  at  tip.  Tarsus  very  long,  equal  to  bill  and  twice  middle  toe. 
Anterior  toes  united  by  web  at  base.  One  species  in  genus,  belonging 
to  North  America. 

Tringa.  Size  small  or  medium.  Bill  straight  or  slightly  decurved, 
medium,  very  slightly  widened  at  tip,  about  as  long  as  head.  Cul- 
men longer  than  middle  toe  with  claw.  Tarsus  about  equal  to  middle 
toe  and  claw.  Anterior  toes  not  webbed.  Inner  webs  of  quills  and 
under  primary  coverts  not  mottled.  Twelve  species  and  one  addi- 
tional subspecies  are  recorded  from  North  America,  of  which  ten 
occur  regularly.  These  species  are  arranged  in  five  subgenera, 


Diagnoses  of  Families  and  Genera     575 

Eurynorhymchus.  Size  small.  Bill  spoon-shaped,  three  times  as 
wide  near  tip  as  at  base.  Toes  not  webbed.  Only  one  species  in 
genus,  and  that  a  straggler  to  North  America. 

Ereunetes.  Size  small.  Anterior  toes  webbed  at  base,  thus  differ- 
ing from  Tringa.  Two  species  in  genus,  both  inhabiting  North 
America. 

Calidris.  Size  small.  No  hind  toe,  thus  differing  from  Tringa. 
One  species  in  genus,  common  in  North  America. 

Limosa.  Size  large.  Bill  longer  than  tarsus,  more  than  one-third 
as  long  as  wing,  thickened  and  curving  upwards  toward  end.  Nasal 
grooves  extending  almost  to  tip.  Tail  shorter  than  exposed  culmen. 
Four  species  found  in  North  America,  of  which  one  occurs  only  in 
Greenland. 

Tetanus.  Size  medium  or  large.  Bill  nearly  straight,  slender, 
about  as  long  as  tarsus,  not  thickened  at  tip.  Nasal  groove  not 
reaching  to  terminal  fourth.  Tail  longer  than  exposed  culmen. 
Tarsus  much  longer  than  middle  toe  without  claw,  and  more  than  one 
and  one-half  times  as  long  as  toe.  Toes  very  slightly  webbed.  Legs 
usually  yellow.  Three,  possibly  four,  species  are  found  in  North 
America,  two  of  which  are  only  stragglers. 

Helodromas.  Size  small.  Tarsus  scarcely  exceeding  middle  toe 
and  claw.  Legs  greenish.  Sternum  single  notched.  Differs  in  these 
respects  from  Totanus.  Two  species  and  one  subspecies  in  genus ; 
all  occurring  in  North  America,  but  one  only  as  a  straggler. 

Symphemia.  Size  large.  Bill  thick,  slightly  recurved,  about  as 
long  as  tarsus.  Nasal  groove  reaching  to  about  middle.  Tarsus 
one  and  one-half  times  middle  toe.  Anterior  toes  markedly  webbed 
at  base.  Legs  bluish.  Quills  with  a  conspicuous  white  patch  at  base. 
One  species  with  a  subspecies  in  genus,  at  home  in  North  America. 

Heteractitis.  Size  medium.  Bill  straight,  heavy,  much  longer  than 
tarsus.  Nasal  groove  extending  about  two-thirds  of  culmen.  Tarsus 
short,  equal  to  middle  toe  and  claw,  and  about  three  times  as  long  as 
hind  toe.  Outer  and  middle  toe  connected  by  web,  no  web  between 
inner  and  middle  toe.  Quills  entire  dark  colored.  Two  species  in 
genus,  one  found  in  North  America. 

Pavoncella.  Size  medium.  Bill  straight,  tapering,  flattened  at  tip. 
Nasal  groove  extending  nearly  to  tip.  Tarsus  very  long,  longer  than 
bill,  but  not  twice  the  length  of  the  inner  toe  and  claw.  Bare  part  of 
tibia  equal  to  about  half  the  length  of  tarsus.  Outer  and  middle 
toe  connected  at  base  by  web.  Tail  not  more  than  half  as  long  as 
wing.  Male  much  larger  than  female,  and  face  of  male  in  summer 


576  The  Water-fowl  Family 

covered  with  fleshy  tubercles,  and  neck  with  a  ruff  of  long  feathers. 
One  species  in  genus,  a  straggler  in  North  America. 

Bartramia.  Size  medium.  Bill  straight,  shorter  than  head.  Nasal 
groove  extending  nearly  to  tip.  Tarsus  very  long,  longer  than  bill 
and  twice  the  length  of  inner  toe  and  claw,  and  one  and  one-half 
times  middle  toe.  Bare  part  of  tibia  equal  to  about  one-half  length 
of  tarsus.  Outer  and  middle  toes  connected  by  a  web.  Tail  more 
than  half  as  long  as  wing.  Feathers  extend  farther  on  upper  than  on 
lower  jaw.  One  species  in  genus,  belonging  to  North  America. 

Tryngites.  Size  small.  Bill  straight,  shorter  than  head.  Nasal 
groove  extending  nearly  to  tip.  Tarsus  short,  longer  than  culmen 
and  about  equal  to  middle  toe  with  claw.  Toes  cleft  to  base.  Tail 
not  half  as  long  as  wing.  Feathers  extend  farther  on  lower  than  on 
upper  jaw.  Inner  webs  of  quills  and  under  primary-coverts  beauti- 
fully mottled.  One  species  in  genus,  belonging  in  North  America. 
Actitis.  Size  small.  Bill  straight,  medium,  slightly  longer  than 
head.  Maxilla  and  mandible  grooved.  Nasal  groove  extending  three- 
fourths  to  tip.  Tarsus  short,  about  equal  to  middle  toe  and  claw  and  to 
bill.  Toes  long,  middle  toe  connected  to  outer  by  large  web  and  writh 
inner  by  small  web.  Bare  part  of  tibia  scarcely  exceeding  hind  toe 
and  claw.  Tail  not  more  than  half  as  long  as  wing,  but  longer  than 
exposed  culmen.  Two  species  in  genus,  only  one  found  in  North 
America. 

Numenius.  Size  large.  Bill  strongly  decurved,  always  long  but 
varying ;  longer  than  tarsus  and  sometimes  than  tarsus  and  middle 
toe.  Tip  of  upper  mandible  extending  beyond  lower.  Nasal  groove 
often  extending  through  basal  three-fourths  of  bill.  Tarsus  moderate 
in  length  and  covered  in  front  with  transverse  scales,  and  behind  with 
small,  hexagonal  scales.  Web  between  middle  and  outer  toes  to  first 
joint,  between  middle  and  inner  half  as  far.  Hind  toe  small.  Feathers 
of  chin  extending  to  opposite  anterior  end  of  nostrils.  Of  the  eight 
species  and  one  subspecies  in  this  genus,  three  are  natives  of  North 
America,  two  and  perhaps  three  others  occurring  irregularly. 

Family  Charadriidae.  The  Plovers.  The  largest  family  of  shore-birds 
after  the  Scolopadda ',  swift  flying,  congregating  like  the  sandpipers 
in  large  flocks  and  found  like  them  throughout  the  world.  The 
fourteen  species  and  two  subspecies  recorded  from  North  America 
are  grouped  in  five  genera. 

Family  Type.  Size  small  or  medium.  Nostrils  oval,  short.  Nasal 
groove  closed  obtusely  and  abruptly  and  not  extending  beyond  middle 
of  maxilla,  or  shallowing  out  broadly.  Bill  rather  short,  compressed 


Diagnoses  of  Families  and  Genera      577 

and  indented  around  nostrils,  swollen  and  curved  beyond  them. 
Hind  toe  generally  wanting.  Neck  short  and  thick.  Bill  shorter 
than  tarsus,  the  tip  usually  hard.  Tarsus  covered  with  small,  hexago- 
nal scales  behind,  and  in  front  except  in  Vanellus. 

Generic  Types.  Vanellus.  Size  medium.  Bill  shorter  than  head  and 
equal  to  middle  toe  without  claw,  straight,  slightly  decurved  at  hard 
tip,  and  slightly  swollen  at  end  of  nasal  groove.  Nostrils  in  shallow 
grooves  extending  two-thirds  of  maxilla.  Tarsus  with  transverse  scales 
in  front,  small,  hexagonal  scales  on  sides.  Web  between  outer  and 
middle  toes  at  base.  Hind  toe  with  claw  present.  Head  with  long 
occipital  crest.  Plumage  of  upper  parts  metallic.  Inner  secondaries 
broad  and  with  tips  rounded,  the  distance  from  shortest  secondary  to 
tip  of  the  primaries  less  than  half  the  length  of  the  wing.  One  spe- 
cies in  genus,  a  straggler  to  North  America. 

Eudromias.  Size  small.  Bill  moderately  stout,  shorter  than  mid- 
dle toe  without  claw.  Tibia  feathered  nearly  to  tibio-tarsal  joint. 
No  hind  toe.  Inner  secondaries  very  long  and  pointed.  The  dis- 
tance from  the  shortest  secondary  to  the  tip  of  primaries  more  than 
half  the  length  of  the  wing.  No  occipital  crest.  Upper  parts  of 
plumage  brown  without  metallic  lustre.  Lower  abdomen  white. 
Tail  not  barred.  One  species  in  genus,  according  to  Sharpe's  classifi- 
cation, belonging  to  the  Old  World,  but  straggling  to  Alaska. 

Squatarola.  Size  medium.  Bill  similar  to  Vanellus,  but  stouter 
and  longer,  about  as  long  as  head  and  equal  to  middle  toe  and  claw. 
Nasal  groove  not  prolonged  much  beyond  middle  of  bill.  Tarsus 
with  small,  hexagonal  scales  in  front  and  on  sides.  Web  between 
outer  and  middle  toes  at  base.  Hind  toe  with  nail  present  but  very 
small.  Head  not  crested.  Plumage  of  upper  parts  black  and  white, 
and  entire  lower  parts  medially  black  in  summer.  Tail  barred.  One 
species  in  genus,  found  through  most  of  the  world. 

Charadrius.  Size  medium.  Similar  to  Squatarola,  but  bill  smaller 
and  more  slender,  shorter  than  head,  and  about  equal  to  middle  toe 
without  claw.  Hind  toe  absent.  Plumage  of  upper  parts  spangled 
with  black,  white,  and  yellow.  Two  species  and  a  subspecies  in 
genus ;  all  found  in  North  America,  but  only  one  widely  distributed. 

j3Lgialitis.  Size  small  or  medium.  Bill  varying  from  short  and 
heavy  in  ^.  meloda,  short  and  slender  in  ^E.  dubia  —  in  both  shorter 
than  middle  toe  without  claw,  to  long  and  very  heavy  in  sE.  wilsonia 
—  equal  to  or  longer  than  middle  toe  and  claw.  Upward  swelling  of 
maxilla  at  end  of  nasal  groove,  usually  very  marked.  Nasal  groove 
extending  more  than  halfway  to  tip  of  maxilla.  Tarsus  with  small, 
2P 


578  The  Water-fowl  Family 

hexagonal  scales  in  front  and  on  sides.  No  hind  toe.  Anterior  toes 
slender  and  basal  webbing  usually  small.  Plumage  of  upper  parts 
plain,  brown  or  gray,  lower  parts  always  white  medially.  Of  the  more 
than  twenty  species  included  in  this  genus,  nine  species  and  sub- 
species are  found  in  North  America,  but  three  of  them  have  little 
claim  to  be  considered  birds  of  the  United  States.  Though  agreeing 
in  many  points,  these  species  differ  so  in  others  that  they  have  been 
divided  into  four  or  five  subgenera. 

Family  Aphrizidae.  The  Surf  Birds  and  Turnstones.  This  family 
consists  of  two  genera  and  four  species,  most  of  which  range  widely 
over  the  world,  frequenting  chiefly  rocky  shores  and  beaches.  All 
occur  in  North  America. 

Family  Type.  Size  medium.  Agrees  with  the  Charadriida  in  the 
shape  of  the  nostrils,  character  of  nasal  groove,  the  indentation  of  bill 
near  nostril,  and  the  length  of  the  neck.  Bill  stout,  not  longer  than 
tarsus.  Nasal  groove  very  distinct.  Tarsus  short,  covered  with  trans- 
verse scales  in  front.  Toes  separate  to  base.  Hind  toe  present. 

Subfamily  Aphrizinae.     The  Surf  Birds.    Only  one  genus,  —  Aphriza. 

Generic  Type.  Bill  about  as  long  as  head,  terminal  portion  swollen  and 
arched  like  a  plover.  Nasal  groove  extending  more  than  halfway  to 
tip.  Tarsus  longer  than  culmen.  Tail  emarginate.  One  species  in- 
habiting Pacific  Coast  of  America. 

Subfamily  Arenarinse.     Only  one  genus,  —  Arenaria. 

Generic  Type.  Bill  shorter  than  head,  terminal  portion  compressed  and 
pointed,  straight  or  slightly  recurved.  Nasal  groove  extending  not 
more  than  halfway  to  tip.  Tarsus  equal  to  culmen.  Tail  slightly 
rounded.  Three  species  in  genus,  of  which  two  are  confined  to 
America  and  the  third  occurs  in  the  northern  part. 

Family  Haematopodidae.  The  Oyster-catchers.  Large,  odd-looking 
birds  with  brightly  colored  and  strangely  shaped  bills.  Shy  and 
solitary  in  their  habits,  they  range  over  the  beaches  of  most  of  the 
world.  Only  one  genus  consisting  of  twelve  species  is  contained  in 
this  family. 

Family  Type.  Size  large.  Bill  greatly  compressed  laterally  beyond 
nostrils,  not  arched,  pointed,  longer  than  tarsus  and  about  twice  as 
long  as  head.  Nostrils  in  basal  fourth.  Evident  nasal  groove  not 
extending  to  middle.  Bill  and  iris  red  or  yellow.  Tarsus  heavy, 
covered  with  small,  hexagonal  scales.  Toes  stout  and  webbed  between 
outer  and  middle  at  base.  No  hind  toe.  Four  species  in  North 
America,  one  of  which  is  a  straggler  from  Europe. 

Genus  Haematopus.    The  generic  type  is  the  same  as  that  of  the  family. 


Diagnoses  of  Families  and  Genera      579 

Family  Jacanidae.  The  Jacanas.  A  family  containing  about  a  dozen 
species  of  small  wading  birds,  that  in  form  and  habits  are  in  many 
ways  intermediate  between  the  rails  and  the  shore-birds.  Their 
range  is  tropical,  and  their  toes  and  claws  are  greatly  lengthened  to 
enable  them  to  run  on  the  broad  leaves  of  the  water-plants  growing 
in  the  lakes  and  marshes  of  their  habitat. 

Of  this  family  only  one  genus  — Jacana  —  and  one  species  occurs 
in  North  America. 

Family  Type.  Size  small.  Bill  ploverlike,  but  longer  and  more  pointed  ; 
the  culmen  depressed  to  end  of  nasal  groove,  then  arched  to  tip. 
Nostrils  small  and  elliptical.  Nasal  groove  not  extending  beyond 
middle  of  maxilla.  Neck  medium.  Wings  with  a  spur  at  metacarpal 
joint.  Legs  long  and  slender.  Tarsus  longer  than  bill.  Toes  very 
long,  with  extremely  long  claws,  that  of  hind  toe  longer  than  the  toe 
itself. 

Generic  Type.  Jacana.  Head  with  a  frontal  lappet,  leaflike,  and 
divided  posteriorly.  Primaries  of  normal  shape.  Spur  on  wing  well 
developed  and  sharp.  Tail  short,  central  feathers  not  longer  than 
the  rest. 


INDEX 


Actitis  macularia,  spotted  sand- 
piper, 432. 

sEgialitis  dubia,  little  ring  plover, 
470. 

JEgialitis  hiaticula,  European  ring 
plover,  469. 

ALgialitis  meloda,  piping  plover,  471. 

jQLgialitis  meloda  circumcincla, 
belted  piping  plover,  473. 

jEgialitis  mongola,  Mongolian  plov- 
er, 475- 

/Egialitis  montana,  mountain  plov- 
er, 478. 

ALgialitis  nivosa,  snowy  plover,  473. 

^Egialitis  semipalmata,  semipal- 
mated  plover,  466. 

ALgialitis  vocifera,  killdeer  plover, 
464. 

Egialitis  wilsonia,  Wilson's  plover, 

477- 

African  geese,  217,  218. 
Aix  sponsa,  see  Wood  duck. 
Alaska — 

Emperor  goose,  2 1 6,  251. 
Steller's  duck,  163. 
Albinos  among  wild  fowl,  204. 
Aleutian  sandpiper    \tringa  ptiloc- 

nemis  couesi"]  365. 
American      avocet      \recurvirostra 

americana\  331. 
American   coot  [fulica  americana\ 

298. 
American    dunlin     \tringa    alpina 

pacifica}  382. 
American  eider  \somateria  dresseri\ 

168. 


American  golden-eye  \_clangula  clan- 
gula  americana]  143. 

American  golden  plover  [ckaradrius 
dominicus\  462. 

American  merganser  \merganser 
americanus\  191. 

American  oyster-catcher  \_kamatopus 
palliatus]  491. 

American  scoter  \oidemia  ameri- 
cana} 174. 

American  white-fronted  goose  [##- 
ser  albifrons  gambeli}  228. 

American  woodcock  [philohela 
minor}  340. 

Amherst,  shore-bird  shooting,  309- 
312. 

Anas  boschas,  see  Mallard. 

Anas  fulvigula,  Florida  duck,  85. 

Anas  fulvigula  maculosa,  mottled 
duck,  86. 

Anas  obscura,  see  Black  duck. 

Anas  obscura  rubripesy  red-legged 
black  duck,  84. 

Anatidce,  see  Water-fowl. 

Anser  albifrons,  European  white- 
fronted  goose,  228. 

Anser  albifrons  gambeli,  American 
white-fronted  goose,  228. 

Anser  fabalis,  bean  goose,  231. 

Anserine,  see  Geese. 

Aphriza  virgata,  see  Surf  bird. 

Aphrizida,  shore-bird  species,  480. 
[See  also  Surf  bird  and  Turn- 
stone.] 

Arctonetta  fischeri,  spectacled  eider, 
165. 


581 


Index 


Arenaria  interpret,  see  Turnstone. 
Arenaria  melanocephala,  black  turn- 

stone,  487. 
Atlantic  Coast  — 

Shore-bird  shooting,  316. 

Stilt  sandpiper  resort,  356. 

White-rumped  sandpiper  resort, 

374-375- 

[See  also  names  of  places,  Long 

Island,  eft:.] 
Audubon  — 

Labrador  duck,  161,  162. 

Smew  specimen,  200. 
Australia  — 

Black  swan,  260. 

Geese,  218. 

Sea-duck,  121. 
Aythya   affinis,   lesser   scaup   duck, 

137- 

Aythya  americana,  see  Red-head. 
Aythya  collaris,  ring-necked  duck, 

140. 

Aythya  marila,  scaup  duck,  134. 
Aythya  vallisneria,  see  Canvas-back. 
Avocets  [recurvirostrida~\  — 

American,  331. 

Characteristics  of  family,  330. 

Diagnosis  of  family,  573. 

Baird's    sandpiper  \_tringa  bairdii~\ 

376. 

Baldpate  \jnareca  americana~\  91. 
Barnacle    goose   [branta  leucopsis~\ 

250. 
Barrow's  golden-eye  \clangula  island- 

ica~\  147. 
Bartramian    sandpiper    [bartramia 

long^ca^^da~\  428. 
Battery-shooting,  8. 

Description  of  battery,  32. 
Great  South  Bay,  33-37. 
Legislation  against,  32. 
Bays,  goose-shooting  on,  205. 
Bean  goose  [anser  fabalis~\  231. 
Belding's  rail  \_rallus  beldingi}  275. 


Belted  piping  plover  \_ALgialitis  me- 
loda  circumcincta~\  473. 

Bering  Islands,  Steller's  duck  resort, 
163,  164. 

Bernicla  canadensis  minima,  cack- 
ling goose,  242. 

Bernicula  nigricans,  black  brant, 
248,  544. 

Black-bellied  plover  \_squatarola 
squatarola~\  456. 

Black-bellied  tree-duck  [dendro- 
cygna  autumnalis]  253. 

Black  brant  [branta  nigricani\  248, 

544- 
Blackbreast,     black-bellied    plover, 

457- 
Black  duck  [anas  obscura~\  79. 

Characteristics  and  habits,  80-84. 
Hybrids  with  mallard,  75,  201. 
Shooting,  81-83. 
Black  duck,    red-legged    [anas    ob- 

scura  rubripes~\  84. 
Black-necked      stilt       [himantopw 

mexicanus~\  333. 
Black     oyster-catcher     \Jicematopus 

bachmani\  494. 
Black    rail    [porzana  jamaicensis~\ 

291. 
Black    swan    found     in    Australia, 

260. 
Black-tailed  godwit  [limosa  limosa\ 

403. 

Black  turnstone  [arenaria  melano- 
cephala'} 487. 

Blinds,  duck-shooting  from,  9. 
Bush-blinds,  see  that  title. 
Construction  of  blind,  19. 
Red-head  shooting,  126. 
Blue  goose  [chen  cczrulescens~\  225. 
Blue-winged  teal  [querquedula  dis- 

cors~\  99. 
Boats  for  duck-shooting,  19. 

Skags,  52. 

"  Boleadores "  used  in  catching 
swans,  260. 


Index 


583 


Bonaparte's    sandpiper,    name    for 
white-rumped    sandpiper, 

374- 

Booby,  name  for  ruddy  duck,  187. 
Bosworth   farm,    goose-shooting    in 

the  stubbles,  209. 
Brant  — 

Black  brant,  248,  544. 
Breeding  and  migration,  38,  245- 

248. 

Common  brant,  243. 
Shooting  — 

Chatham  Bay,  38. 
Virginia,  41. 
Brant  goose   \branta  bernicla  glau- 

cogastra~\  244. 

Brant  Pond,  duck-shooting,  21-24. 
Branta     bernida,    common    brant, 

243- 
Branta  bernicla  glaucogastra,  brant, 

244. 
Branta     canadensis,     see     Canada 

goose. 
Branta       canadensis       hutchinsii, 

Hutchins'   goose,   239. 
Branta      canadensis      occidentalis, 

white-cheeked  goose,  241. 
Branta    leucopsis,   barnacle    goose, 

250. 
Branta  nigricans,  black  brant,  248, 

544- 
Breeding,  interbreeding  among  wild 

fowl,  201-203. 
Briggs,  J.  J.,  instance  of  harlequin 

breeding,  159. 
Bristle-thighed    curlew    \_numenius 

tahitiensis~\  449. 
Broadbill,   scaup   duck,    and    lesser 

scaup  duck,  134,  137. 
Buff-breasted    sandpiper    {tryngites 

subrujicollis~]   430. 
Buffle-head    [charitonetta     albeola} 

W  530- 

Bunn,  shore-bird  shooting,  Shinne- 
cock  Bay,  306. 


Bush    blinds,    duck-shooting    from, 

27. 

Red-head  shooting,  126. 
Butterball,  resort  of,  152. 

Cackling  goose  \bernicla  canadensis 

minima'}  242. 

Cairina  moschata,  see  Muscovy  duck. 
Caladris  arenaria,  Sanderling,  392. 
California  — 

Duck-shooting,  503. 
Water-fowl  of  Pacific  coast,  see 

Pacific  coast. 
California  clapper  rail  [rallus  obsole- 

tus~\  276. 

California,  Gulf  of,  home  of  quanti- 
ties of  game,  559. 

Camptolaimus  labradorius,  see  Lab- 
rador duck. 

Canada  goose  \branta  canadensis~\  — 
Breeding,  233. 
Characteristics  and  habits,  232- 

239. 

Decoys,  205. 
Domestication,  5,  238. 
Hybrids,  5,  239. 
Massachusetts  club  sport,  236. 
Nest  in  Okanogan  district,  B.C., 

233- 

Night  hunting,  238. 
North  Carolina  coast,  236. 
Pacific  coast,  533. 
Resorts   of   birds   and   dates  of 

visitation,  235. 

Canvas-back  \_aythya  vallisneria~\  — 
Characteristics,  128-133. 
Chesapeake  Bay,  destruction  of 

game,  129. 
Pacific  coast,  523. 
Shooting  methods,  52,  131. 
Canvas  decoys  for  duck-shooting,  18. 
Cape  Cod  — 

Brant  season,  247. 
Shore-bird  shooting  at  Monomoy, 
303. 


Index 


Caribbean  clapper  rail  [rallus  longi- 
rostris  caribceus]  281. 

Carolina    rail    [porzana    Carolina] 
284. 

Carter,    E.,   discovery   of   Barrow's 
golden-eye,  149. 

Casarca   casarca,   see    Ruddy   shel- 
drake. 

Charadriida,  see  Plovers. 

Charadrius    apricarius,    European 
golden  plover,  461. 

Charadrius    dominicus,    American 
golden  plover,  461. 

Charadrius  dominicus  fulvus,  Pacific 
golden  plover,  462. 

Charitonetta  albeola,  buffle-head,  150. 

Chatham  Bay  — 

Brant  departure,  247. 
Brant-shooting,  38. 

Chaulelasmus  streperus,  gadwall,  87, 

527- 

Chen  carulfscens,  blue  goose,  225. 

Chen  hyperborea,  lesser  snow  goose, 
219. 

Chen    hyperborea    rivalis,    greater 
snow  goose,  223. 

Chen    rossii,    Ross's    snow    goose, 
227. 

Chenalopex     tzgyptiacus,     Egyptian 
goose,  217. 

Chesapeake  Bay  — 

Canvas-back  destruction,  129. 
Shore-bird  shooting,  307-309. 

Chesapeake    dog,    value    in    duck- 
hunting,  ii. 

Cinnamon   teal    [  querquedula   cya- 
noptera]  102,  512. 

Clangula       clangula        americana, 
American  golden-eye,  143. 

Clangula  islandica,  Barrow's  golden- 
eye,  147. 

Clapper  rail  [rallus  crepitans~\   270, 

277- 

Clapper   rail,  California,  \rallus  ob- 
soletus\  276. 


Clapper  rail,  Caribbean,  [rallus  longi- 

rostris  caribous']  281. 
Clapper  rails  — 

Characteristics,  278-280. 
Eggs  once  abundant,  280. 
Subspecies,  278. 
Clubs  for  hunters,  10. 

California    duck-hunting    clubs, 

509,511. 

Currituck  Club,  see  that  title. 
Live  decoys,  17. 
Long  Point  duck-hunting,  46. 
Massachusetts        goose-hunting, 

236. 
Cobb's  Island,  robin-snipe  shooting, 

360. 

Colorado  River,  mouth  of,  congrega- 
tion of  birds,  558-564. 
Common  brant  \_brantabernicla']  243. 
Common  redshank  \_totanus  tetanus'} 

4I5- 

Connecticut,  rail-shooting  at  Essex, 

268-270. 
Cooper's  sandpiper  \Jringa  cooperi\ 

37°- 
Coots  [fulicin(e\  270,  272. 

American,  298. 

Diagnosis  of  family,  572. 

European,  301. 
Coots,  name  for  white-winged  scoter, 

180. 

Corn  crake  \crex  crex~\  293. 
Craft,  see  Boats. 
Crex  crex,  corn  crake,  293. 
Crymophilus  fulicarius,  red  phala- 

rope,  320. 
Curlew    sandpiper     \tringa   ferru- 

ginea-]  385. 
Curlews  — 

Bristle-thighed,  449. 

Eskimo,  444. 

European,  438. 

Hudsonian,  440. 

Long-billed,  435. 

Whimbrel,  448. 


Index 


585 


Currituck  Club  — 

Duck-shooting,  20-24. 

Goose-shooting,  206-209. 
Cygnince,  see  Swans. 

Dafila  acuta,  see  Pintail. 

Dan  Petty,  battery-shooting,  Long 

Island,  33-38. 

Davy,  shore-bird  shooting,  308. 
Decoys,  7,  16. 
Canvas,  18. 
Dead  ducks,  18. 
Live  decoys,  see  that  title. 
Locations  for  decoying  ducks,  19. 
Making  and  coloring,  17. 
Placing,  1 8. 
Swan  decoy,  206,  208. 
Decrease  of  water-fowl,  see  Water- 
fowl. 

Dendrocygna  autumnalis,  black-bel- 
lied tree-duck,  253. 
Dendrocygna   fulva,   fulvous    tree- 
duck,  255,  514. 

Denmark,   burrows    dug    for    shel- 
drakes, 72. 

Destruction  of  water-fowl,  see  De- 
crease under  Water-fowl. 
Dogs  — 

Chesapeake  dog,  value  in  duck- 
hunting,  ii. 

Rail-hunting,  280,  288,  290. 
Dotterel  [eudromias  morinelhts~\  454. 
Dowitcher,    name    for    red-breasted 

snipe,  349. 
Down  of  sea-ducks,  value  as  article 

of  commerce,  119. 
Duck-shooting  — 

Battery -shooting,  see  that  title. 
Blinds,  see  that  title. 
Boats,  see  that  title. 
Brant  Pond,  21-24. 
California,  503. 
Chesapeake  dog,  value  of,  II. 
Clubs  for  hunters,  see  that  title. 
Craft,  see  Boats. 


Duck-shooting  [continued]  — 
Decoys,  see  that  title. 
Flight-shooting  difficulties  in  Cali- 

fornia, 505. 

Great  South  Bay,  33-37. 
Guns,  9. 

Ice-hole  shooting,  60. 
James  River  experiences,  28. 
Line  shooting,  see  that  title. 
Long  Point,  46. 
Methods,    see    Battery-shooting, 

Decoys,  etc. 

Mexican  experiences,  57. 
Narrows    Island    Club    recollec- 

tions, 20. 

North  Dakota  recollections,  13. 
Pass  shooting,  see  that  title. 
Pearson's  Pond,  50. 
Recollections,  6-7. 
Rice    fields,  wild,   shooting   in, 

24-27. 

River  shooting,  56. 
Spring  shooting,  abolition  neces- 

sary, 65-70. 

[See  also  names  of  various  ducks.  ~\ 
Ducks  — 

Decrease  of  water-fowl,  .^Water- 

fowl. 
Diagnosis  of  family  and  genera, 

565. 

Mergansers,  see  that  title. 
Pacific  coast,  see  that  title. 
River-ducks,  see  that  title. 
Sea-ducks,  see  that  title. 
Shooting,  see  Duck-shooting. 
[See     also     names    of    various 

ducks.~\ 

Dunlin  [tringa  alpina~\  381. 
Dunlin  American,  382. 


Egyptian   goose    [chenalopex 

tiacus]  217. 
Eider  — 

American,  168. 

King,  172. 


586 


Index 


Eider  [continued]  — 
Northern,  166. 
Pacific,  170. 
Spectacled,  165. 

Emperor  goose  [philacte  canagica} 
216,  251. 

Eniconetta  stelleri,  Steller's  duck, 
162. 

Ereunetes  occidentalis,  western  sand- 
piper, 391. 

Ereunetes  pusillus,  semipalmated 
sandpiper,  388. 

Erismatura  jamaicensis,  ruddy 
duck,  185. 

Eskimo  curlew  \_numenius  borealis] 
444. 

Essex,  rail-shooting,  268-270. 

Eudromias     morinellus,      dotterel, 

454- 

European  coot  [fulica  atra]  301. 

European  curlew  {numenius  arqua- 
tus\  438- 

European  golden  plover  \_chara- 
drius  apricarius\  461. 

European  greenshank  \totanus  neb- 
ular ius~\  405. 

European  green-winged  teal  \nettion 
crecca]  95. 

European  oyster-catcher  \Jicemato- 
pus  ostralegus\  490. 

European  ring  plover  \jzgialitis 
hiaticula]  469. 

European  snipe  [gallinago  galli- 
nago}  341. 

European  white-fronted  goose  \_anser 
albifrons~\  228. 

European  widgeon  [mareca  penel- 
ope]  89. 

European  woodcock  \scolopax  rusti- 
cola\  338. 

Eurynorhynchus  pygmaus,  spoon- 
bill sandpiper,  387. 

Farallone  rail  \_porzana  coturnicu- 
lus\  292. 


Flight -shooting  difficulties  in  Cali- 
fornia, 505. 

Florida  clapper  rail,  278. 

Florida  duck  \anas  fulvigula\  85. 

Florida  gallinule  \_gallinula  gale- 
ateci}  296. 

Frazer's  oyster-catcher  \hcematopus 
frazerf]  493. 

Fulica  americana,  American  coot, 
298. 

Fulica  atra,  European  coot,  301. 

Fulicince,  see  Coots. 

Fuligulintz,  see  Sea-ducks. 

Fulvous  tree-duck  \_dendrocygna 
fulva\  255,  514. 

Gabbling  goose,  name  for  Hutchins' 

goose,  240. 
Gadwall     \chaulelasmus    streperui} 

87»  527. 
Gallinago     delicata,     see     Wilson's 

snipe. 
Gallinago gallinago,  European  snipe, 

341- 

Gallinago  major,  great  snipe,  346. 
Gallinula  galeata,  Florida  gallinule, 

296. 

Gallinules,  subfamily  of  rails,  270, 
272. 

Diagnosis  of  family,  572. 

Florida,  296. 

Purple,  294. 
Geese  [anuritta]  — 

African,  217,  218. 

American    white-fronted    goose, 
228. 

Australian,  218. 

Barnacle  goose,  250. 

Bean  goose,  231. 

Black-bellied  tree-duck,  253. 

Black  brant,  248,  544. 

Blue  goose,  225. 

Brant,  see  that  title. 

Brant  goose,  244. 

Cackling  goose,  242. 


Index 


587 


Geese  [continued]  — 

Canada  goose,  see  that  title. 

Characteristics  of  family,  215. 

Common  brant,  243. 

Diagnosis  of  family,  569. 

Egyptian  goose,  217. 

Emperor  goose,  216,  251. 

European   white-fronted    goose, 
228. 

Food,  value  as,  216. 

Greater  snow  goose,  223. 

Hutchins'  goose,  239. 

Lesser  snow  goose,  219. 

New  Zealand,  219. 

Pacific  coast,  see  that  title. 

Ross's  snow  goose,  227. 

Shooting,  see  Goose-shooting. 

Snow  goose,  see  that  title. 

Tree-ducks,  see  that  title. 

White-cheeked  goose,  241. 

White-fronted    goose,    see    that 

title. 
Godwits  — 

Black-tailed,  403. 

Hudsonian,  400. 

Marbled,  395. 

Pacific,  397. 
Golden-eye  — 

American,  143. 

Barrow's,  147. 
Golden  plover  — 

American,  462. 

European,  461. 

Pacific,  463. 
Goose-shooting  — 

Bays,  shooting  on,  205. 

Cunning    of    the     wild     goose, 
205. 

Currituck  Club,  206-209. 

Live  decoys,  205. 

Mexican  experiences,  212. 

Stubble  fields,  shooting  in,  209. 

[See  also  Geese.] 

Gray  back,  name   for   red-breasted 
snipe,  349,  352. 


Gray   yellowlegs    \totanus    melano- 

leucus  frazart]  410. 
Great  snipe  \_gallinago  major]  346. 
Great  South  Bay,  battery  shooting, 

33-37- 
Greater  snow  goose  \_chen  hyper borea 

nivalis~]  223. 
Greater  yellowlegs  \_totanus  melano- 

leucus]  407. 
Green  sandpiper  \_helodromas  ochro- 

PUS~\  420. 
Green-winged    teal    [nettion    caro- 

linensis~]  95. 
Green-winged  teal,  European  \net- 

tion  crecca]  95. 

Green-winged  teal,  Pacific  coast,  519. 
Grinnell,  G.  B.,  account  of  yellow 

rail,  289. 

Gulf  of  California,  home  of  quanti- 
ties of  game,  559. 
Guns,  duck-shooting,  9. 

Harelda  hy emalis,  old-squaw,  153. 
Harlequin  duck  \Jiistrionicus  histri- 

onicus~\  157. 
Heligoland  — 

European    woodcock,     netting, 

339- 

Velvet  scoters'  resort,  177. 

Helodromas  ochropus,  green  sand- 
piper, 420. 

Helodromas  solitarius,  solitary  sand- 
piper, 416. 

Helodromas  solitarius  dnnamomeus, 
western  solitary  sand- 
piper, 419. 

Heteractitis  incanus,  wandering 
tattler,  425. 

Himantopus  mexicanus,  black- 
necked  stilt,  333. 

Histrionicus  histrionicus,  harlequin 
duck,  157. 

H(zmatopodid<%)  see  Oyster-catchers. 

Hamatopus  bachmani,  bteck  oyster- 
catcher,  494, 


588 


Index 


Hamatopus  frazeri,  Frazer's  oyster- 
catcher,  493. 

Hamatopus     ostralegus,     European 
oyster-catcher,  490. 

Hcematopus     palliatus,      American 
oyster-catcher,  491. 

Hooded  merganser  \lophodytes  cucul- 

latus}  197. 

Contest  with  wood  duck  for  nest, 
198. 

Hospital     Point,     battery-shooting, 

35- 
Hudsonian  curlew  \numenius  hud- 

sonicus\  440. 
Hudsonian  godwit  \limosa  hamas- 

ticd]  400. 
Hunting,  see  Duck-shooting,  Goose- 

-shooting,  etc. 
Hutchins'     goose      \branta     cana- 

densis  hutchinsii~\  239. 
Hybrids  — 

Canada  goose,  5,  239. 
Characteristics,  5,  203. 
Interbreeding  among  wild  fowl, 

201-203. 
Mallard,  75,  201-202. 

Ice-hole  duck-shooting,  60. 
Iceland  — 

Knot  eggs  taken  in  1890,  362. 
Protection  to  breeding  eiders,  4. 
Interbreeding    among    wild    fowl, 

201-203. 

[See  also  Hybrids.] 
lonornis  martinica,  purple  gallinule, 

294. 

Irrigated  land,  fondness  of  water- 
fowl for,  511. 

Jacana  spinosa,  Mexican  jacana,  497. 
Jacanas  \_jacanidte~]  — 

Asia,  species  found  in,  497. 

Characteristics  of  family,  496. 

Diagnosis  of  family,  579. 

Mexican,  497. 


Jamaica,    abundance      of     clapper 

rail,  281. 
James  River  — 

Broadbill  flocks,  140. 
Canvas-back  resort,  130. 
Duck-shooting,  28. 
Sora  rail  hunting,  288. 
Jim    Bosworth,    goose-shooting    in 
the  stubbles,  209. 

Killdeer  plover  \agiatitus  vocifera] 

464. 
King   eider    \jsomateria  spectabilis~\ 

172. 

King  rail  \rallus  elegans~\  274. 
Knot,  tringa  canutus,  357. 
Krieker,  name  for    pectoral    sand- 

piper,  313,  371. 

Labrador  duck   \_camptolaimus  lab- 

radorius~\  160. 
New  York   museum    collection, 

162. 

Rareness  of,  161. 
Webster,    D.,    birds    killed    by, 

161. 
Lake    Erie,    canvas-back    shooting, 

52. 

Lapwing  \vanellus  vanellus\  452. 
Least     sandpiper     \tringa     minu- 

tilla]  377- 
Lesser  scaup  duck  \ayihya  affinis~\ 

«37« 

Lesser  snow  goose  \chen  hyper- 
borea}  219. 

Lesser  yellowlegs  \totanus  fla- 
vipei\  412. 

Limicola,  see  Shore-birds. 

Limosa  fedoa,  marbled  godwit,  395. 

Limosa  hczmastica,  Hudsonian  god- 
wit,  400. 

Limosa  lapponica  baueri,  Pacific 
godwit,  397. 

Limosa  timosa,  black-tailed  godwit, 
403- 


Index 


589 


Line  shooting  — 

Description  of  method,  62-63. 
White- winged  scoter,  180. 
Little  ring  plover  \_agialitis  dubia~\ 

470. 
Live  decoys  — 

Duck-shooting,  17. 
Goose-shooting,  205. 
Lockhart,    Mr.,     nests     of     buffle- 

head,  151. 

Long-billed  curlew  {numenius  Ion- 
giro  sir  is\  435. 
Long  Island  — 

Battery-shooting,  33-37. 
Brant  season,  245,  246. 
Shinnecock  Bay,  see  that  title. 
Stilt  sandpiper  resort,  356. 
White-winged  scoter  resort,  179- 

1*1. 

Long  Point,  duck-shooting,  46. 
Long-toed  stint  \tringa  damacensis] 

380. 
Lophodytes    cucullatus,  see    Hooded 

merganser. 
Louisiana  clapper  rail,  278. 

Macrorhamphus  griseus,  red- 
breasted  snipe,  348. 

Macrorhamphus  scolopaceus,  red- 
bellied  snipe,  352. 

Magdalen  Islands,  Eskimo  curlew, 

445- 

Mallard  [anas  boschas]  73. 

Characteristics  and  habits,  76-79. 

Geographical  range,  76. 

Hybrids,  75,  201-202. 

Pacific  coast,  515. 

Shooting,  78. 

Marbled  godwit  \limosa  fedoa~\  395. 
Mareca  americana,  baldpate,  91. 
Mareca  penelope,  European  widgeon, 

89. 
Market  gunning  and  the  destruction 

of  game,  68. 
Marshes,  shore-bird  shooting,  312. 


Masked  duck  \nomonyx  dotninicus~\ 

1 88. 

Massachusetts,  Canada  goose  hunt- 
ing, 236. 
Mauritius,  manner  of  catching  rail, 

1675.  273. 
Meadow-hens,  name  for  clapper  rail, 

279. 

Merganser    americanus,    American 

merganser,  191.  \ 

Merganser     serrator,     red-breasted 

merganser,  194. 
Mergansers  \inergin<z\  — 
American,  191. 
Characteristics,  190. 
Diagnosis  of  family,  565. 
Hooded     merganser,     see     that 

title. 

Red-breasted,  194. 
Smew,  199. 

Mergina:,  see  Mergansers. 
Mergus  albellus,  smew,  199. 
Metric's,  Amherst  shore-bird  sport, 

309. 
Mexican    jacana    [jacana   spinosa~\ 

497- 
Mexico  — 

Black-bellied    tree-duck,     1901, 

254. 

Cinnamon  teal,  103. 
Duck-shooting  experiences,  57. 
Goose-shooting  experiences,  212. 
Greater  yellowleg  haunt,  409. 
Sora  rail,  286. 
Warfare  on  water-fowl,  4. 
Micropalama  himantofus,  stilt  sand- 

piper,  355- 

Migration  of  water-fowl,  3. 
Mississippi,  wood-duck  shooting,  514. 
Mongolian    plover    \agialitis   mon- 

gola~\  475. 

Monomoy  Island,  shore-bird  shoot- 
ing, 303- 

Moore,  N.  B.,  description  of  Florida 
duck,  85-86. 


590 


Index 


Mottled  duck  \_anas  fulvigula  tnacu- 

losa\  86. 
Mountain    plover    \_cegialitis    mon- 

tana\  478. 
Mud    goose,    name    for    Hutchins' 

goose,  240. 
Muscovy  duck  \_cairinamoschatcf\  73. 

Hybrids  with  mallard,  75,  202. 
Mute  swan,  description,  259,  260. 

Nantucket  Sound,  American  eider  re- 
sort, 169. 

Narrows  Island  Club,  see  Currituck 
Club. 

Netta  rufina,  rufous-crested  duck, 
121. 

Netting   birds   in    Heligoland,   178, 

339- 

Nettion  carolinensis,  green-winged 
teal,  95. 

Nettion  crecca,  European  green- 
winged  teal,  95. 

New  York  Museum,  Labrador  duck 
specimens,  162. 

New  Zealand  geese,  219. 

Nomonyx  dominicus,  masked  duck, 
1 88. 

North  Carolina,  Canada  goose  hunt- 
ing, 236. 

North  Dakota  — 

Goose-shooting  in  the  stubbles, 

'     210. 

Lesser  snow  goose,  221. 
Pass-shooting  recollections,  13. 
Red-head  resort,  125. 

Northern  eider  \_somateria  mollis- 
sima  borealis~\  166. 

Northern  phalarope  \_phalaropus  lo- 
batus\  323. 

Norway,  protection  to  breeding  ei- 
ders, 4. 

Numenius  arquatus,  European  cur- 
lew, 438. 

Numenius  borealis,  Eskimo  curlew, 
444- 


Numenius    hudsonicus,    Hudsonian 

curlew,  440. 
Numenius  longirostris,    long-billed 

curlew,  435. 

Numenius  phaopus,  whimbrel,  448. 
Numenius  tahitiensis,  bristle-thighed 

curlew,  449. 

Oidemia  americana,  American  sco- 
ter, 174. 
Oidemia  deglandi,  see  White-winged 

scoter. 

Oidemia  fuse  a,  see  Velvet  scoter. 
Oidemia  perspicillata,    surf   scoter, 

182. 

Old-squaw  \_harelda  hyemalis~\  153. 
Olor    buccinator,   trumpeter    swan, 

265. 
Olor    columbianus,     see    Whistling 

swan. 

Olor  cygnus,  whooping  swan,  267. 
Oyster-catchers    \hcematopodid<z~\  — 
American,  491. 
Black,  494. 

Characteristics  of  family,  489. 
Diagnosis  of  family,  578. 
European,  490. 
Frazer's,  491. 

Pacific  coast,  water-fowl  of — 
Ducks  — 

Abundance  in  recent  years, 

503-505- 

California  shooting,  503. 

Canvas-back,  523. 

Cinnamon  teal,  512. 

Gad  wall,  527. 

Green-winged  teal,  519. 

Mallard,  515. 

Occasional  ducks  and  varia- 
tions, 529. 

Pintail,  521. 

Red-head,  524. 

Ruddy  duck,  530. 

Spoonbill,  517. 


Index 


Pacific  coast  [continued] — 
Ducks  [continued] — 

Widgeon,  526,  530. 

Wood-duck,  514. 
Geese  -— 

Abundance  in  recent   years, 

533- 

Canada  goose,  533. 
Difficulties  of  hunting,  532. 
Occasional,  543. 
Salt-water  goose,  544. 
Snow  goose,  541,  543. 
White-fronted     goose,     539, 

544- 

Sand-hill  crane,  553. 
Shore-birds,  557. 
Swan  hunting,  551. 
Waders,  557. 
Pacific    eider    \_somateria    v-nigra~\ 

170. 
Pacific    godwit    \_limosa    lapponica 

baueri}  397. 
Pacific   golden    plover    \_charadrius 

dominions  fulvus\  463. 
Pass  shooting  — 

Locations,  etc.,  12. 
North  Dakota  recollections,  13. 
Pavoncella  pugnax,  ruff,  426. 
Pearson's  Pond,  duck-shooting,  50. 
Pectoral    sandpiper   \tringa    macu- 

lata~\  — 

Characteristics,  370-373. 
Shooting  on  the  marshes,  313. 
Phalaropes  \_phalaropodidce\  — 
Characteristics,  319. 
Diagnosis  of  family,  573. 
Northern,  323. 
Red,  320. 
Wilson's,  327. 
Phalaropus  lobatus,  Northern  phala- 

rope,  323. 
Philacte   canagica,  Emperor   goose, 

251. 

Philohela   minor,   American   wood- 
cock, 340. 


Pied-duck,  see  Labrador  duck. 
Pintail  \_dafila  acutd\  109. 

Hybrids  with  mallard,  75,  202. 

Pacific  coast,  521. 

Piping  plover  \agialitis  meloda]  471. 
Piping  plover,  belted,  473. 
Plovers  [charadriidce J  — 

American  golden  plover,  462. 

Belted  piping,  473. 

Black-bellied,  456. 

Characteristics   of   family,    451- 
452. 

Diagnosis  of  family,  576. 

Dotterel,  454. 

European  golden,  461. 

European  ring,  469. 

Golden  plover,  see  that  title. 

Killdeer,  464. 

Lapwing,  452. 

Little  ring,  470. 

Mongolian,  475. 

Mountain,  478. 

Pacific  golden  plover,  463. 

Piping,  471. 

Ringed  plover,  see  that  title. 

Semipalmated,  466. 

Snowy,  473. 

Wilson's,  477. 

"Plovers'  eggs  "  laid  by  lapwing,  453. 
Porzana  Carolina,  Carolina  rail,  284. 
Porzana  coturniculus,  farallone  rail, 

292. 

Porzana  jamaicensis,  black  rail,  291. 
Porzana  noveboracensis,  yellow  rail, 

288. 

Porzana porzana,  spotted  crake,  284. 
Pribilof  Islands,  turnstone,  486. 
Pribilof  sandpiper  \tringa  ptilocne- 

mis~]  367. 
Prince  Edward's  Island,  blackbreast- 

shooting,  458. 
Purple  gallinule  \ionornis  martin- 

ica~\  294. 

Purple  sandpiper  \tringa  maritima~\ 
362. 


592 


Index 


Querquedula  cyanoptera,  see  Cinna- 
mon teal. 

Querquedula  discors,  blue-winged 
teal,  99. 

Rail-shooting,  268. 

Essex  sport,  268-270. 

Season,  268. 

[See  also  Rails.] 
Rails  \rallida>\  — 

American  coot,  298. 

Belding's  rail,  275. 

Black  rail,  291. 

California  clapper  rail,  274. 

Caribbean  clapper  rail,  281. 

Carolina  rail,  284. 

Characteristics  and  habits,  270- 

273. 

Clapper  rails,  see  that  title. 
Corn  crake,  293. 
Diagnosis  of  family,  571. 
Dogs  used  in  hunting  rail,  280, 

288,  290. 

European  coot,  301. 
Flight,  species  without  power  of 

flight,  273. 

Florida  gallinule,  296. 
Gallinules,  see  that  title. 
Haunts  of,  268. 
King  rail,  274. 
Mauritius,   manner   of   catching 

rail,  1675,  273. 
Purple  gallinule,  294. 
Shooting,  see  Rail-shooting. 
Spotted  crake,  284. 
Subfamilies,  270. 
Varieties,  270. 
Virginia  rail,  281. 
Yellow  rail,  288. 
.•tallida,  see  Rails. 

Rallus  beldingi,  Belding's  rail,  275. 
Rallus  crepitans,  clapper  rail,  270, 

277. 
Rallus  crepitans  saturatus,  Louisiana 

clapper  rail,  278. 


Rallus  crepitans  scottii,  Florida  clap- 
per rail,  278. 
Rallus   crepitans  -waynei,    Wayne's 

clapper  rail,  278. 
Rallus  elegans,  king  rail,  274. 
Rallus  longirostris  caribceus,  Carib- 
bean clapper  rail,  281. 
Rallus  obsoletus,  California  clapper 

rail,  276. 
Rallus    virginianus,   Virginia    rail, 

281. 
Recollections      of      duck-shooting, 

6-7. 
Recurvirostra  americana,  American 

avocet,  331. 
Recurvirostrida,    see   Avocets   and 

Stilts. 
Red-backed   sandpiper   \tringa   al- 

pina  pacifica~\   382. 
Red-bellied  snipe   \jnacrorhamphus 

scolopaceus\   352. 
Red-breasted  merganser  \inerganser 

serrator~\  194. 

Red-breasted  sandpiper,  358. 
Red-breasted  snipe  \_macrorhamphus 

griseus~\  348. 

Red-head  \_aythya  americana~\  — 
Characteristics,  123-128. 
Pacific  coast,  524. 
Resorts,  124-127. 
Shooting  methods,  125-127. 
Red-legged  black  duck  \_anasobscura 

rubripes~]  84. 
Red  phalarope  \_crytnophilus  fulica- 

rius~]  320. 
Red  River    settlement,  snow-goose 

anecdote,  222. 
Redshank,  common,  415. 
Rice  fields,  wild,  duck-shooting  in, 

24-27. 
Ring-necked  duck  \_aythya  collaris~\ 

140. 

Ringed  plover  — 
European,  469, 
Little,  470, 


Index 


593 


River-ducks  \_anatid<z\  — 

Baldpate,  91. 

Black  duck,  see  that  title. 

Blue-winged  teal,  99. 

Characteristics  of  family,  70-72. 

Cinnamon  teal,  see  that  title. 

Diagnosis  of  family,  566. 

European  green-winged  teal,  95. 

European  widgeon,  89. 

Flight,  71. 

Florida  duck,  85. 

Gadwall,  87,  527. 

Green-winged  teal,  see  that  title. 

Mallard,  see  that  title. 

Mottled  duck,  86. 

Pintail,  see  that  title. 

Red-legged  black  duck,  84. 

Ruddy  sheldrake,  see  that  title. 

Shoveller,  105. 

Teal,  see  that  title. 

Wood-duck,  see  that  title. 
Rivers,  duck-shooting  on,  56. 
Robin-snipe,  name  for  knot,  359, 

360. 

Ross's  snow  goose  \chen  rossit]  227. 
Ruddy    duck     \erismatura  jantai- 
cemis~\  185. 

Pacific  coast,  530. 

Ruddy  sheldrake  \_casarca  casarca~\ 
104. 

Burrows   dug  for,  in  Denmark, 

72. 

Ruff  [pavoncella  pugnax~\  426. 
Rufous-crested  duck  \netta  rufina\ 

121. 

Salt -water  goose,  Pacific  coast,  544. 
Sanderling  \_caladris  arenaria\  392. 
San  Diego  Bay,  black-brant  resort, 

545-549- 
Sandpipers  — 
Aleutian,  365. 
American  dunlin,  382. 
Baird's,  376. 
Bartramian,  428. 
2Q 


Sandpipers  \_continued~\  — 

Black-tailed  godwit,  403. 

Bristle-thighed  curlew,  449. 

Buff-breasted,  430. 

Common  redshank,  415. 

Cooper's,  570. 

Curlews,  see  that  title. 

Diagnosis  of  family,  573. 

Dunlin,  381. 

Eskimo  curlew,  444. 

European  curlew,  438. 

European  greenshank,  405. 

Godwits,  see  that  title. 

Gray  yellowlegs,  410. 

Greater  yellowlegs,  407. 

Green,  420. 

Hudsonian  curlew,  440. 

Hudsonian  godwit,  400. 

Knot,  357. 

Lesser  yellowlegs,  412. 

Long-billed  curlew,  435. 

Long-toed  stint,  380. 

Marbled  godwit,  395. 

Pacific  godwit,  397. 

Pectoral  sandpiper,  see  that  title. 

Pribilof,  367. 

Purple,  362. 

Red-backed,  382. 

Ruff,  426. 

Sanderling,  392. 

Semipalmated,  388. 

Solitary,  416. 

Spoonbill,  387. 

Spotted,  432. 

Stilt,  355. 

Wandering  tattler,  425. 

Western,  391. 

Western  solitary,  419. 

Western  willet,  424. 

Whimbrel,  448. 

White-rumped,  373. 

Willet,  421. 

Yellowlegs,  see  that  title. 
San  Joaquin  Valley  — 

Duck-shooting,  511. 


594 


Index, 


San  Joaquin  Valley  \eontintueT\  — 
Geese,     abundance     in     recent 

years,  533. 

Sand-hill  crane  shooting,  553. 
Scaup  duck  \_aythya  marila~]  134. 
Scaup  duck,  lesser,  \_aythya  affinis~\ 

!37- 
Scolopacidce,  species  of  shore-birds, 

336. 

[See    also    Woodcocks,   Snipes, 

and  Sandpipers.] 

Scolopax  rusticola,  European  wood- 
cock, 338. 
Scoters  — 

American,  174. 

Despised  by  hunters,  176,  185. 

Line  shooting,  62. 

Surf  scoter,  182. 

Velvet  scoter,  see  that  title. 

White-winged    scoter,    see    that 

title. 
Sea-ducks  \_fuligulince~\  — 

American  eider,  168. 

American  golden-eye,  143. 

American  scoter,  174. 

Australian  variety,  121. 

Barrow's  golden-eye,  147. 

Buffle-head,  see  that  title. 

Canvas-back,  see  that  title. 

Characteristics,  118-121. 

Diagnosis  of  family,  567. 

Diving  experts,  118. 

Down  of  eider,  119. 

Eider,  see  that  title. 

Harlequin  duck,  157. 

King  eider,  1 72. 

Labrador  duck,  see  that  title. 

Lesser  scaup  duck,  137. 

Masked  duck,  188. 

Northern  eider,  166. 

Old-squaw,  153. 

Pacific  eider,  170. 

Red-head,  see  that  title. 

Ring-necked  duck,  140. 

Ruddy  duck,  185. 


Sea-ducks  \continued~\  — 

Rufous-crested  duck,  121. 

Scaup  duck,  134. 

Scoters,  see  that  title. 

Shooting,  61. 

Spectacled  eider,  165. 

Steamer-duck,  120. 

Steller's  duck,  162. 

Surf  scoter,  182. 

Velvet  scoter,  see  that  title. 

White-winged    scoter,    see    that 

title. 
Semipalmated      plover       \_agialitis 

semipalmata~\  466. 
Semipalmated   sandpiper  \_ereunetes 

pusillus'}  388. 
Sharp-tailed  sandpiper  \tringa  acu- 

minata~\  368. 

Sheldrake,  see  Ruddy  sheldrake. 
Shinnecock  Bay  — 

Dowitcher  shooting,  349. 

Shore-bird  shooting,  306. 
Shooting,  see  Duck-shooting,  Goose- 
shooting,  etc. 
Shore-bird  shooting  — 

Amherst  shooting,  309-312. 

Chesapeake  Bay  sport,  307-309. 

Destruction  of  game,  303,  316. 

Monomoy     Island     experience, 
1886,  303. 

Season,  302. 

Shinnecock  Bay  experience,  306. 

Wading  the  marshes,  312. 

[Set  also  Shore-birds.] 
Shore -birds  [limicola]  — 

Avocets,  see  that  title. 

Characteristics  and  habits,  317- 

319. 

Destruction,  303,  316. 
Diagnosis  of  family,  572. 
Godwit,  see  that  title. 
Golden  plover,  see  that  title. 
Haunts,  wide  range  of  birds,  315. 
Jacanas,  see  that  title. 
Oyster-catchers,  see  that  title. 


Index 


595 


Shore-birds  {continued}  — 
Pacific  coast,  557. 
Phalaropes,  see  that  title. 
Plovers,  see  that  title. 
Ringed  plovers,  see  that  title. 
Sandpipers,  see  that  title. 
Shooting,  see   Shore-bird  shoot- 
ing. 

Snipe,  see  that  title. 
Species  found  in  North  America, 

319. 

Stilts,  see  that  title. 

Surf  bird,  see  that  title. 

Turnstone,  see  that  title. 

Wilson's  snipe,  see  that  title. 

Woodcocks,  see  that  title. 

Yellowlegs,  see  that  title. 
Shoveller  \_spatula  clypeata~\  105. 
Siberian  coast,  Steller's  duck  resort, 

164. 

Skag,  boat  for  duck-shooting,  52. 
Smew  \_ntergus  albellus\  199. 
Snipe  — 

Diagnosis  of  family,  573. 

Dowitcher,  349. 

European,  341. 

Great,  346. 

Red-bellied,  352. 

Red-breasted,  348. 

Wilson's  snipe,  see  that  title. 
Snow  goose  — 

Greater,  223. 

Lesser,  219. 

Pacific  coast,  541,  543. 

Ross's,  227. 

Snowy  plover  \jczgialitis  nivosa~\  473. 
Solitary  sandpiper  \_helodromas  soli- 

tarius~\  416. 

Solitary  sandpiper,  western,  419. 
Somateria  dresseri,  American  eider, 

1 68. 

Somateria  mollissima  borealis,  north- 
ern eider,  166. 

Somateria    spectabilis,    king    eider, 
172. 


Somateria    v-nigra,    Pacific    eider, 
170. 

Sora,  Carolina  rail,  285. 

South  America  — 

Steamer-duck,    species    of    sea- 
duck,  120. 

Swan,  peculiar  method  of  catch- 
ing, 260. 

Spatula  clypeata,  shoveller,  105-109. 

Spectacled  eider  [arctonetta  fischeri~\ 
165. 

Spoon-bill     \_eurynorhynchus     pyg- 

mceus~]  387. 
Pacific  coast,  517. 

Spotted   crake   [porzana  porzana~\ 
284. 

Spotted    sandpiper    \_actitis    macu- 
laria~\  432. 

Sprigtail,  name  for  pintail  duck,  521. 

Spring  shooting,  abolition  necessary, 
65-70. 

Squatarola  squatarola,  black-bellied 
plover,  456. 

Steamer-duck  — 

American  merganser,  193. 
Sea-duck  species,  120. 

Steganopiis  tricolor,  Wilson's  phala- 
rope,  327. 

Stejneger,  Dr.,  manner  of  catching 
rail    in     Mauritius,    1675, 

273. 

Steller's   duck    [eniconetta   stelleri\ 

162. 
Stilt  sandpiper  \_microp<zlama  himan- 

topus}  355. 

Stilts  \_recurvir ostrid<z~\  — 
Black-necked,  333. 
Characteristics  of  family,  330. 
Diagnosis  of  family,  573. 
Stint,  long-toed,  380. 
Stubble  fields,  goose-shooting,  209. 
Surf  bird  \_aphriza  virgata~\  481. 

Diagnosis  of  family,  578. 
Surf  scoter  \oidemia  perspicillata] 
182. 


596 


Index 


Swans  \_cygnince~}  — 

Age,  long  life  of  swans,  260. 

Black   swan  found  in  Australia, 
260. 

Characteristics,  258-260. 

Currituck  Bay  decoy,  206,  208. 

Diagnosis  of  family,  571. 

Distinction  from  other  birds  of 
family,  258. 

Mute  swan,  259,  260. 

Pacific  coast,  551. 

South  American  swan,  260. 

Trumpeter  swan,  265. 

Whistling  swan,  see  that  title. 

Whooping  swan,  267. 
Symphemia  semipalmata,  willet,  421. 
Symphemia   semipalmata   inornata, 
western  willet,  424. 

Tampico,    black-bellied    tree-duck, 
1901,  254. 

Tattler,  wandering,  425. 

Teal  — 

Blue-winged,  99. 
Cinnamon  teal,  see  that  title. 
Green-winged  teal,  see  that  title. 

Totanus  flavipes,  lesser  yellowlegs, 
412. 

Totanus  melanoleucus,  greater  yel- 
lowlegs, 407. 

Totanus  melanoleucus  frazari,  gray 
yellowlegs,  410. 

Totanus       nebularius,       European 
greenshank,    405. 

Totanus  to/anus,  common  redshank, 

415- 
Tree-duck  — 

Black-bellied,  253. 
Fulvous  tree-duck,  255,  514. 
Relation  to  anserine,  217. 
Tringa      acuminata,      sharp-tailed 

sandpiper,  368. 
Tringa  alpina,  dunlin,  381. 
Tringa  alpina  pacifica,  red-backed 
sandpiper,  382. 


Tringa   bairdii,  Baird's  sandpiper, 

376. 

Tringa  canutus^  knot,  357. 
Tringa  cooperi,  Cooper's  sandpiper, 

370. 

Tringa  datnacensis,  long-toed  stint, 
38o. 

Tringa  ferruginea,  curlew  sand- 
piper, 385. 

Tringa  fuscicollis,  white-rumped 
sandpiper,  373. 

Tringa  tnaculata,  see  Pectoral  sand- 
piper. 

Tringa  maritima,  purple  sandpiper, 
362. 

Tringa  minutilla,  least  sandpiper, 

377- 

Tringa  ptilocnemist  Pribilof  sand- 
piper, 367. 

Tringa  ptilocnemis  couesi,  Aleutian 
sandpiper,  365. 

Trumpeter  swan  \_olor  buccinator] 
265. 

Tryngites  subruficollis,  buff-breasted 
sandpiper,  430. 

Turnstone      \jzrenaria      interpres~\ 

482. 
Diagnosis  of  family,  578. 

Turnstone,  black,  487. 

Vanellus  vanellus,  lapwing,  452. 
Velvet      scoter      \_oidemia     fusca] 

176. 

Diet,  Heligoland  instance,  177. 
Netting,  178. 

Virginia  rail  \_rallus  virginianus~\ 
281. 

Waders,  Pacific  coast,  557. 
Wading     the    marshes,    shore-bird 

shooting,  312. 
Wandering  tattler   \heteractitis   in- 

canus~\  425. 
Wat  Green,  duck-shooting  on  James 

River,  28. 


Index 


597 


Water-fowl  \_anatida\  — 

Albinos,  204. 

Avocets,  see  that  title. 

Characteristics,  I. 

Colorado  River,  mouth  of,  con- 
gregation of  birds,  558- 
564. 

Decrease,  63. 

Market  gunning,  68. 
Protection  of  wild  fowl,  need 

of,  4-5,  66-70. 
Restrictions  as  to  quantity  of 

game  killed,  68. 
Spring     shooting,     abolition 
necessary,  65-70. 

Diagnoses  of  families  and  genera, 
565. 

Ducks  and  Duck-shooting,  see 
those  titles. 

Eider,  see  that  title. 

Geese,  see  that  title. 

Goose-shooting,  see  that  title. 

Hybrids,  see  that  title. 

Interbreeding,  201-203. 

Irrigated  land,  fondness  of  water- 
fowl for,  511. 

Jacanas,  see  that  title. 

Mergansers,  see  that  title. 

Mexican  warfare,  4. 

Migration,  3. 

Oyster-catchers,  see  that  title. 

Pacific  coast,  water-fowl  of,  see 
that  title. 

Phalaropes,  see  that  title. 

Plovers,  see  that  title. 

Rail-shooting  and  Rails,  see  those 
titles. 

Relation  of  wild  fowl  to  domestic 
fowl,  5. 

River-ducks,  see  that  title. 

Sandpipers,  see  that  title. 

Scoters,  see  that  title. 

Sea-ducks,  see  that  title. 

Shooting,  see  Duck-shooting, 
Goose -shoot  ing,  etc. 


Water-fowl  [continued  ]  — 

Shore-birdstfw^ Shore-bird  shoot- 
ing, see  those  titles. 
Snipe,  see  that  title. 
Stilts,  see  that  title. 
Surf  bird,  see  that  title. 
Swans,  see  that  title. 
Teal,  see  that  title. 
Turnstone,  see  that  title. 
Uses  as  food  and  clothing,  4. 
Woodcocks,  see  that  title. 
Yellowlegs,  see  that  title. 
\_See  also  names  of  species ^\ 
Wayne's  clapper  rail,  278. 
Webster,  D.,  Labrador  duck  killed 

by,  161. 
Western   sandpiper  \ereunetes  occi- 

dentalis~\  391. 

Western    solitary    sandpiper    \helo- 
dromas  solitarius  cinna- 
momeus~\  419. 
Western  willet  \symphemia  semipal- 

mata  inornata~\  424. 
Whimbrel  \numenius  phceopus~\  448. 
Whistling     swan      \jolor     Columbia 

nus~\  — 

Characteristics,  261-264. 
Migration  incident,  259. 
White-cheeked  goose  \branta  cana- 

densis  occidentalis~\  241. 
White-fronted  goose  — 
American,  228. 
European,  228. 
Pacific  coast,  539,  544. 
White-rumped     sandpiper     \_tringa 

fuscicollis'}  373. 
White-winged   scoter    [oidemia  de- 

glandi~\  — 

Description,  etc.,  178-182. 
Line  shooting,  180.  | 
Whooping  swan  \_olor  cygnus~\  267. 
Widgeon,  European,  {mareca  penel- 

ope-}  89. 

Widgeon,  Pacific  coast,  526,  530. 
Wild  fowl,  see  Water-fowl. 


59S 


Index 


Willet  [symphemia  semipalmata\ 
421. 

Willet,  western,  424. 

Wilson's  phalarope  \_steganopus  tri- 
color'} 327. 

Wilson's  plover  \_agialitis  wilsonia\ 

477- 

Wilson's  snipe  [gallinago  delicatd]  — 
Characteristics  and  habits,  342- 

346. 

Pacific  coast,  557. 
Popularity,  314,  343. 
Shooting,  wading  the   marshes, 

312. 

Woodcock  \_scolopacid(Z~\  — 
American,  340. 
Diagnosis  of  family,  573. 
European,  338. 


Wood-duck  \_aix  sponsa\  113. 

Contest  with  merganser  for  nest, 

198. 
Mississippi  tributaries,  514. 

Yellowlegs  — 
Gray,  410. 
Greater,  407. 
Lesser,  412. 
Shooting,   wading  the   marshes, 

312. 
Yellow  rail  [porzana  noveboracensis~\ 

288. 
Yellowstone     Park,     protection    to 

water-fowl,   4,   69. 
Yuma,  trip  to   mouth   of  Colorado 
River,  558,  560. 

F.C. 


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